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The Role of Women in Traditional Farming Systems as Practiced in Homegardens: a Case Study in Sylhet Sadar Upazila, Bangladesh

Sayma Akhter
Forestry and Environmental Science, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh

Mohammed Alamgir
Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh

Md. Shawkat Islam Sohel*
Forestry and Environmental Science, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh

Md. Parvez Rana
Forestry and Environmental Science, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh

S. J. Monjurul Ahmed
Forestry and Environmental Science, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh

Mohammad Shaheed Hossain Chowdhury
Forest Policy Laboratory, Department of Forest Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Shinshu University, 8304 Minamiminowa-Mura, 399-4598 Nagano-Ken, Japan

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Forests cover only 6 to 8 percent of the total land area of Bangladesh. While agricultural expansion continues to massively deplete the natural forests, a well-managed homegarden practice is vital for reversing the existing trend and promoting the ecological balance of the country. An understanding of the role of women in homegarden management within a traditional farming system is important in expanding and improving the practice. This paper seeks to explore the participation of women in homegarden management activities, understanding the impact of homegardens on women’s income and livelihoods and assessing women’s awareness of homegarden-oriented activities that support forest conservation. The study demonstrates a number of important conclusions: (1) women are mostly involved in homegarden management-related activities (2) women are interested in conserving homegardens because they obtain such substantial benefits as food security, income, health care, and environmental benefits (3) women were found to be aware of home-garden conservation and tuned to motivating husbands, children, and neighbors to conserve the agro-biodiversity of homegardens. Findings suggest that increased involvement of women in a broad range of homegarden management activities is not only beneficial for their own socio-economic well-being, but also imperative for sustaining the livelihoods of their communities and for preserving the agro-biodiversity in homegardens.

Keywords: Agroforestry, Forest conservation, Traditional farming system, Women, Bangladesh

Location: Sylhet Sadar Upazila, Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-10-2008

End Date: 00-12-2008

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Non-commodity: Gender issue

Objectives:

It is important to assess the role of women in homegarden management in rural households to formulate appropriate policy instruments for sustainable management of homegardens. The present study was conducted to address the role of women in homegarden management in rural households.

Methodology:

Study area: Sylhet Sadar, the most populous upazila (sub-district) of Sylhet district, occupies an area of 517.43 km², with 19.22 km² of government forest area. Mean annual minimum and maximum temperature are 17.6°C and 33.0°C, respectively. Total population is 554,412 (1071 person km^-2), women being 263,271 (47.5%) of this. The literacy rate is 50% for men and 37.6% for women. Average homestead area is 0.03ha. Sampling design: A two-stage sampling design was employed; four villages, viz. Shekh Para, Tilagar, Akhaliaghat, Dolia (primary units; PUs), were selected from 689 villages in the first stage. During a reconnaissance survey it was found that some households are not engaged in any management/cultural operations in their homegardens because they are not dependent on these for their livelihoods. Other households are more or less engaged with homegardens. From each village, 20 households (secondary units; SUs) were selected from those engaged with homegardens. Village size ranged from 108 to 141 households; therefore, it sampled 14% to 18% of households in each village. With a checklist and a draft questionnaire, a pilot survey was conducted in the four selected villages in October 2008. Based on the information from the pilot study, a semi-structured questionnaire for the field survey was finalized. Primary information was collected between October and December 2008. The final survey and four focus group discussions were completed with the participation and informed consent of female members of the households. Responses to open questions were collected on a variety of demographic and socio-economic indicators: household composition, age, education, primary and secondary occupations, interactions with the homegarden, awareness of the benefits obtained from homegardens, roles of women in homegarden conservation and the expected benefits and training from government and non-governmental organizations. On each topic, the respondents were free to express their views.

Source of Information: Tropical Conservation Science Vol. 3(1):17-30, 2010 ISSN 1940-0829

Article Link (Online Journal): http://tropicalconservationscience.mongabay.com/content/v3/10-03-29_17-30_akhter_et_al.pdf

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

In the study area, women have an intense interaction with homegardens, given their heavy involvement in collecting and producing food, fuel, timber, and medicinal remedies, and also given their interest and motivating character in forest conservation. This study has portrayed the role of women in the use, conservation, and traditional management practices in the homegarden, which can be used as an entry point to build an economically viable and ecologically sustainable homegarden management system.

Knowledge Management: Journal