Agricultural Liberalization and its Impact on Rural Women’s Empowerment

Abstract

The role of women in food production and food security is indispensable. Any changes in the agricultural pattern of the country affects the status of rural women. The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of liberalization of agriculture on rural women’s empowerment. Specifically, it aims to: examine the related agricultural liberalization policies formulated in the country; analyze how these policies affect the agricultural sector; identify the significant roles of rural women in agriculture; define rural women empowerment in terms of welfare, access, conscientization, participation and control; and to assess the impact of agricultural liberalization 1n terms of the factors earlier identified. To establish the relation between rural women empowerment and liberalization of agriculture, key informant interviews were conducted from non-governmental organizations of women and personal interviews with some rural women. The methodology applied was also accompanied by extensive archival research and content analysts. On a nationwide scale, results showed that liberalization has more adverse effects than positive contributions on the agricultural sector. It has greatly impoverished the sector, increased the landlessness problems, declined the gains from agriculture, and shaped the economy in favor of the transnational corporations. Women, on the other hand bore the brunt of this crisis. In addition to the household responsibilities, they had Gathered from the interviews and supplemented by documents, it showed that empowerment of women is adversely affected. The welfare benefits of liberalization are very few and almost negligible. Not much improvement has been made on the access of women to land and other resources. However in terms of conscientization and participation, there are two effects. Those women belonging to organized groups realized that the cause of their hardships is rooted in the political-economic structure of the country, and took action to address this issue. Women not belonging to organized groups had little knowledge of the structural cause and they participated less in trying to solve the problems. In terms of control, men still had greater opportunities than women. Though 1t is highly impossible to take away the country from its commitment on liberalizing the agriculture, this should not indicate acceptance of the problems posed by it. There are other alternative ways by which the negative effects can be remedied. More compensation and support should be given to the agricultural sector, particularly to rural women. Assessment of the agricultural developments should be done on a regular basis. It must be taken into consideration that disempowerment of rural women.