Walking where men walk: Gendered politics of smallholder agriculture in Zimbabwe
Small-holder farmers are the pillars of the rural economy, food security and sustainable livelihoods. As a result of the numerous institutionalized gender inequities that are ingrained in laws, regulations, socio-cultural beliefs, and practices, small-holder agriculture in Zimbabwe continues to be c...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Alexandru Ioan Cuza University Press, Iasi, Romania
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Present Environment and Sustainable Development |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.pesd.ro/articole/nr.17/nr.1/pesd2023171003.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797752548531109888 |
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| author | Happy TIRIVANGASI Munyaradzi DZVIMBO Leornard CHITONGO Albert MAWONDE |
| author_facet | Happy TIRIVANGASI Munyaradzi DZVIMBO Leornard CHITONGO Albert MAWONDE |
| author_sort | Happy TIRIVANGASI |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Small-holder farmers are the pillars of the rural economy, food security and sustainable livelihoods. As a result of the numerous institutionalized gender inequities that are ingrained in laws, regulations, socio-cultural beliefs, and practices, small-holder agriculture in Zimbabwe continues to be contested and gendered. Exploring lessons from the experiences of women small-holder farmers in fourteen villages in Sanyati District, Zimbabwe, this study examines how the “contours” of gender-political dynamics and relations continue to limit rural women in the mainstream small-holder agricultural sector in Zimbabwe. The study used a mixed-methods research paradigm with which data was collected through purposive sampling techniques, in-depth personal and key informant interviews. The study shows that women farmers in rural communities of Zimbabwe are struggling to control their activities from farmland ownership up to post-harvesting time. Hence, they continue to face discrimination regarding having farmland rights, accessing the markets, financial services, extension services and information. These challenges continue to reveal the existence of an unjust, undemocratic, and unequal space for women in various facets of life at community and household level. Therefore, this calls for the need to spearhead women empowerment and involvement in the agricultural sector. The study further recommends gender mainstreaming within institutions, reforming policies, and laws relevant to small-holder farming and inclusive of women. More so, supporting small-holder farmers is very important in boosting the declining commercial agriculture in Zimbabwe. The study concludes by examining practical approaches in land allocation through gender policy and reforms such as repealing of social practices and customary laws which hinder gender equality. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T17:04:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5e58e1c3c85742799ecfaf180cfc3744 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2284-7820 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T17:04:57Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Alexandru Ioan Cuza University Press, Iasi, Romania |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Present Environment and Sustainable Development |
| spelling | doaj.art-5e58e1c3c85742799ecfaf180cfc37442023-08-06T20:55:43ZengAlexandru Ioan Cuza University Press, Iasi, RomaniaPresent Environment and Sustainable Development2284-78202023-06-01171335010.47743/pesd2023171003Walking where men walk: Gendered politics of smallholder agriculture in ZimbabweHappy TIRIVANGASI0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1353-6635Munyaradzi DZVIMBO1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6390-1541Leornard CHITONGO2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0106-8264 Albert MAWONDE3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4816-3170Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of Jyväskylä, Finland ; Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Limpopo, South AfricaDepartment of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Limpopo, South AfricaSchool of Management, IT & Governance, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaCollege of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South AfricaSmall-holder farmers are the pillars of the rural economy, food security and sustainable livelihoods. As a result of the numerous institutionalized gender inequities that are ingrained in laws, regulations, socio-cultural beliefs, and practices, small-holder agriculture in Zimbabwe continues to be contested and gendered. Exploring lessons from the experiences of women small-holder farmers in fourteen villages in Sanyati District, Zimbabwe, this study examines how the “contours” of gender-political dynamics and relations continue to limit rural women in the mainstream small-holder agricultural sector in Zimbabwe. The study used a mixed-methods research paradigm with which data was collected through purposive sampling techniques, in-depth personal and key informant interviews. The study shows that women farmers in rural communities of Zimbabwe are struggling to control their activities from farmland ownership up to post-harvesting time. Hence, they continue to face discrimination regarding having farmland rights, accessing the markets, financial services, extension services and information. These challenges continue to reveal the existence of an unjust, undemocratic, and unequal space for women in various facets of life at community and household level. Therefore, this calls for the need to spearhead women empowerment and involvement in the agricultural sector. The study further recommends gender mainstreaming within institutions, reforming policies, and laws relevant to small-holder farming and inclusive of women. More so, supporting small-holder farmers is very important in boosting the declining commercial agriculture in Zimbabwe. The study concludes by examining practical approaches in land allocation through gender policy and reforms such as repealing of social practices and customary laws which hinder gender equality.http://www.pesd.ro/articole/nr.17/nr.1/pesd2023171003.pdfagriculturelivelihoodspoliticssmallholderwomensustainable developmentgender |
| spellingShingle | Happy TIRIVANGASI Munyaradzi DZVIMBO Leornard CHITONGO Albert MAWONDE Walking where men walk: Gendered politics of smallholder agriculture in Zimbabwe Present Environment and Sustainable Development agriculture livelihoods politics smallholder women sustainable development gender |
| title | Walking where men walk: Gendered politics of smallholder agriculture in Zimbabwe |
| title_full | Walking where men walk: Gendered politics of smallholder agriculture in Zimbabwe |
| title_fullStr | Walking where men walk: Gendered politics of smallholder agriculture in Zimbabwe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Walking where men walk: Gendered politics of smallholder agriculture in Zimbabwe |
| title_short | Walking where men walk: Gendered politics of smallholder agriculture in Zimbabwe |
| title_sort | walking where men walk gendered politics of smallholder agriculture in zimbabwe |
| topic | agriculture livelihoods politics smallholder women sustainable development gender |
| url | http://www.pesd.ro/articole/nr.17/nr.1/pesd2023171003.pdf |
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