Article
Version 1
Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed
New Possibilities for Women’s Empowerment through Agroecology in Himachal Pradesh, India
Version 1
: Received: 30 October 2023 / Approved: 31 October 2023 / Online: 31 October 2023 (12:18:40 CET)
Version 2 : Received: 15 December 2023 / Approved: 15 December 2023 / Online: 15 December 2023 (13:49:58 CET)
Version 2 : Received: 15 December 2023 / Approved: 15 December 2023 / Online: 15 December 2023 (13:49:58 CET)
A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.
Behl, P.; Osbahr, H.; Cardey, S. New Possibilities for Women’s Empowerment through Agroecology in Himachal Pradesh, India. Sustainability 2024, 16, 140. Behl, P.; Osbahr, H.; Cardey, S. New Possibilities for Women’s Empowerment through Agroecology in Himachal Pradesh, India. Sustainability 2024, 16, 140.
Abstract
In 2018, the state of Himachal Pradesh in north India launched an initiative to convert all its farmers to natural farming (NF), an agroecological approach. The aim was to address multiple challenges related to rural livelihoods, high input costs, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. This paper is based on a qualitative case study of the state programme to transition farmers to NF. It seeks to understand how its mechanisms support and empower small and marginal women farmers. In addition to identifying mechanisms that facilitate the effective uptake of NF, the case study sought women's views on whether these increased spaces for decision-making and developed capabilities and autonomy. Framed within the vision of reclaiming food sovereignty, various mechanisms such as training in villages, participating in NF groups and networks, visits to model farms and adopting leadership roles offered new pathways for women farmers to gain confidence and capabilities. Women began to participate in spaces that had been culturally and structurally denied to them. This case study illustrates how agroecology efforts with a specific focus on gender have the potential to provide women with creative outlets and a variety of decision-making and income-generating roles, spaces for community learning and knowledge needed for sustainable ecosystems.
Keywords
Himachal Pradesh; transition; womens' empowerment; food sovereignty; agroecology; farmer networks; marginal farmers
Subject
Social Sciences, Gender and Sexuality Studies
Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Comments (0)
We encourage comments and feedback from a broad range of readers. See criteria for comments and our Diversity statement.
Leave a public commentSend a private comment to the author(s)
* All users must log in before leaving a comment