Role of Women in Achieving Household Food Security in South Asia
Description
Food security is a crucial issue and the role of women in the process of food security is one of the important concerns in contemporary time. Around the world, women are responsible for managing household resources but their role as producers, providers and their critical contribution to household food security has not been fully recognised. This paper aimed to explain how women in rural setting perceive the food security of their households. It also includes vulnerabilities in this regard and major concerns of women in rural households have concerning the availability of food and access to food. This study was conducted in the tribal-dominated Rayagada district of Odisha, India with the help of semi unstructured interviews, focus group discussions and observation methods with 235 households. This empirical study found out that food insecurity and persistence malnutrition occur due to gender inequality. It is also showed that the limited access or control over economic resources excluded women from decision making and limited claim to food that makes women vulnerable. The finding suggested that equal participation of women and men in household activities can only solve the problem of food insecurity and rural poverty.
Role of Women in Achieving Household Food Security in South Asia
Food security is a crucial issue and the role of women in the process of food security is one of the important concerns in contemporary time. Around the world, women are responsible for managing household resources but their role as producers, providers and their critical contribution to household food security has not been fully recognised. This paper aimed to explain how women in rural setting perceive the food security of their households. It also includes vulnerabilities in this regard and major concerns of women in rural households have concerning the availability of food and access to food. This study was conducted in the tribal-dominated Rayagada district of Odisha, India with the help of semi unstructured interviews, focus group discussions and observation methods with 235 households. This empirical study found out that food insecurity and persistence malnutrition occur due to gender inequality. It is also showed that the limited access or control over economic resources excluded women from decision making and limited claim to food that makes women vulnerable. The finding suggested that equal participation of women and men in household activities can only solve the problem of food insecurity and rural poverty.