Technology for whom? Solar irrigation pumps, women, and smallholders in Nepal
Agricultural technologies are often promoted as a medium for women’s economic empowerment, which can transform unequal gender relations in rural agrarian societies. This paper investigates three solar irrigation pump (SIP) schemes implemented by state and non-state actors and examines their impacts...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1143546/full |
| _version_ | 1797667840682098688 |
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| author | Gitta Shrestha Gitta Shrestha Labisha Uprety Manohara Khadka Aditi Mukherji |
| author_facet | Gitta Shrestha Gitta Shrestha Labisha Uprety Manohara Khadka Aditi Mukherji |
| author_sort | Gitta Shrestha |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Agricultural technologies are often promoted as a medium for women’s economic empowerment, which can transform unequal gender relations in rural agrarian societies. This paper investigates three solar irrigation pump (SIP) schemes implemented by state and non-state actors and examines their impacts on women and marginal farmers. We utilize a theory of change framework intended to evaluate the effectiveness of livelihood interventions and guide the design of gender transformative interventions. Our analysis relies on 63 qualitative interviews, 9 key informant interviews and 4 telephonic interviews with social mobilisers from the Saptari District in Nepal. The findings shed light on the unequal social and gender relations that have skewed the adoption and benefits of SIP technology. Gender and social inequalities persist, with limited adoption and benefit of SIP among women and smallholders. Women’s involvement in strategic decisions related to SIP adoptions, installations and usages is limited. This study underscores the importance of strategic interventions that foster meaningful women’s empowerment and ensure equitable distribution and benefits from SIP technology. Assessing the effectiveness of SIPs in empowering women, it is crucial to consider whether the resulting access, ownership, or decision-making opportunities challenge, reinforce, or reproduce unequal gender and social relations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T20:20:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6650dab369bd4fa78c78cba947804fdb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2571-581X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T20:20:24Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
| spelling | doaj.art-6650dab369bd4fa78c78cba947804fdb2023-10-03T07:46:22ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems2571-581X2023-10-01710.3389/fsufs.2023.11435461143546Technology for whom? Solar irrigation pumps, women, and smallholders in NepalGitta Shrestha0Gitta Shrestha1Labisha Uprety2Manohara Khadka3Aditi Mukherji4Independent Researcher, Kathmandu, NepalInternational Water Management Institute, Kathmandu, NepalInternational Water Management Institute, Kathmandu, NepalInternational Water Management Institute, Kathmandu, NepalInternational Water Management Institute, New Delhi, IndiaAgricultural technologies are often promoted as a medium for women’s economic empowerment, which can transform unequal gender relations in rural agrarian societies. This paper investigates three solar irrigation pump (SIP) schemes implemented by state and non-state actors and examines their impacts on women and marginal farmers. We utilize a theory of change framework intended to evaluate the effectiveness of livelihood interventions and guide the design of gender transformative interventions. Our analysis relies on 63 qualitative interviews, 9 key informant interviews and 4 telephonic interviews with social mobilisers from the Saptari District in Nepal. The findings shed light on the unequal social and gender relations that have skewed the adoption and benefits of SIP technology. Gender and social inequalities persist, with limited adoption and benefit of SIP among women and smallholders. Women’s involvement in strategic decisions related to SIP adoptions, installations and usages is limited. This study underscores the importance of strategic interventions that foster meaningful women’s empowerment and ensure equitable distribution and benefits from SIP technology. Assessing the effectiveness of SIPs in empowering women, it is crucial to consider whether the resulting access, ownership, or decision-making opportunities challenge, reinforce, or reproduce unequal gender and social relations.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1143546/fullgender relationsNepalsolar irrigation pumptechnologywomen empowerment |
| spellingShingle | Gitta Shrestha Gitta Shrestha Labisha Uprety Manohara Khadka Aditi Mukherji Technology for whom? Solar irrigation pumps, women, and smallholders in Nepal Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems gender relations Nepal solar irrigation pump technology women empowerment |
| title | Technology for whom? Solar irrigation pumps, women, and smallholders in Nepal |
| title_full | Technology for whom? Solar irrigation pumps, women, and smallholders in Nepal |
| title_fullStr | Technology for whom? Solar irrigation pumps, women, and smallholders in Nepal |
| title_full_unstemmed | Technology for whom? Solar irrigation pumps, women, and smallholders in Nepal |
| title_short | Technology for whom? Solar irrigation pumps, women, and smallholders in Nepal |
| title_sort | technology for whom solar irrigation pumps women and smallholders in nepal |
| topic | gender relations Nepal solar irrigation pump technology women empowerment |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1143546/full |
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