By Salma Begum (Institute of Development Studies and Sustainability, United International University) & Indu K. Sharma (International Water Management Institute)
Gole Nur Begum, a mother of three daughters and one son, has been farming for over a decade. Her journey began with support from an agricultural supervisor from the Department of Agriculture Extension. Today, she cultivates a variety of crops, including vegetables, lentils, sunflowers, and paddy. In her own words, “Except salt, we barely need to buy any essentials from the grocery store or market.” Gole Nur is also a member of the North Khekuani (Uttar Khekuani) Water Management Group (WMG), and her work has helped fund her youngest daughter’s education. Yet, when asked to introduce herself, she simply says, “housewife.”
Her daughter In-law’s family and her own relatives would not appreciate her identifying herself as a “farmer.” As she puts it, “A woman working in the field is not something to highlight or recognize; rather, it should be hidden so that it doesn’t bring any shame to the family.” This reluctance to identify as a farmer stems from deep-rooted social norms. This is a sentiment echoed by both women and men. The husband of another woman WMG member says, “I permit her (his wife) to join (the WMG) because we may benefit from the committee, but how can she work with other men? What will people think?” Lack of support from husbands, as well as the masculinity of these institutions discourages women from taking leadership positions, leaving men to dominate all decisions related to agriculture and participate in any meetings.
The invisibility of women’s labor
Gole Nur’s story echoes the experiences of countless other women, including formal members of WMGs across Patuakhali and Khulna. Despite engaging in diverse agricultural tasks, such as seed sowing, harvesting, storage and processing, men, families, and, more importantly, the women themselves, undervalue and discount this contribution. It is as if their work in the fields is invisible, hidden behind the level of “housewife.”
We saw this firsthand when we asked male members of the executive committee of a WMG in Khulna about the occupations of its women members, they initially introduced the women as ‘housewives’. However, upon further probing, it was revealed that these women actively participate in farming. Along with household responsibilities, women shoulder increasing levels of productive agricultural work, yet, feel hesitant to recognize themselves as “farmers.” This is due to prevalent social norms that associate women working in the fields, in public domains with an element of shame and indignity.
Wage discrepancies
Despite these challenges posed by social norms, women comprise more than half (58 percent) of the agricultural workforce in Bangladesh. However, even when women overcome existing social barriers related to agriculture, societal norms dictate their wages, which are typically lower than those of male farmers. According to Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) officials, the usual wage for women farmers is 400-500 taka (US 3.00 – 4.00 approx.) a day, whereas male farmers receive 600 taka (US 5) per day. This disparity imposed by societal norms has persisted despite affirmative government regulations and labor laws.
Imposed participation
While society overlooks the vital role of women in agriculture, policies and strategies have mandated 30% representation of women in agricultural decision-making committees at the community level, for example, in Water Management Organizations (WMOs). Following these policies, government and many non-governmental organizations, including the DAE and the Blue Gold Project, emphasize at least 30% participation of women in their programs or in executive committees (the decision-making level).
However, in practice, women are often underrepresented, especially in executive roles, where they tend to be less than 5%. Even when women hold positions, their influence tends to be limited, reflecting prevailing gender imbalances in decision-making roles.
We witnessed this firsthand during our recent field visits in Khulna. Picture this: we are conducting a workshop with representatives of WMOs and relevant sub-district administration departments. Most of the men representing WMOs shared their remarks. The woman president of the Purba Halia (East Halia) WMG attempted to share her opinion. As soon as she began speaking, the men expressed visible disapproval and disappointment. They interrupt her, citing time constraints and asking her to conclude her remarks. This dismissive behavior, and the men dominating the discussion clearly demotivated the woman, causing her to falter mid-speech. It took the intervention of one of the women researchers, who encouraged her with a supportive gesture and verbal reassurance, for her to continue her address. This moment perfectly captures how deeply ingrained gender biases can undermine women’s participation and leadership, even when they hold positions of authority.
From statistical to substantive parity
Now, there may be a question as to whether Bangladesh has made any progress in gender equality. The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report of 2024 ranks Bangladesh first in South Asia in terms of the gender gap index. While this is reason to celebrate, we must not be satisfied with statistical progress alone. We should consider the fact that these numbers do not capture the full reality of women’s experiences in agriculture. Creating an inclusive agricultural landscape requires, beyond policies, a change in mindsets, values and social norms.
Recognizing women’s roles in agriculture beyond policy in day-to-day practice is not just about fairness and uplifting women themselves—it is key to unlocking economic empowerment, bolstering food security and improving nutrition nationwide. A 2023 report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) revealed the potential impact: closing the gender gap in farm productivity and wages could boost global GDP by US 1 trillion and lift 45 million people out of food insecurity.
The way forward
Despite affirmative policies and the increasing contribution of women farmers to agricultural production and household income, the fact that women like Gole Nur do not want to introduce themselves as farmers implies that much needs to be done to turn the tide for women in agriculture. If this is the fate of women like Gole Nur, who are practicing farmers and members of formal committees, what might be the reality for women who remain underrepresented and marginalized? So, what can we do? It’s not just about training and empowering women – though that is important too. For decades, social norms that perpetuate gender inequalities and obscure women’s contributions have been highlighted as major constraints in agriculture. Despite this long-standing recognition, we must resist the temptation to become complacent or to normalize the current situation simply because these issues have been raised before. Instead, consistently bringing attention to these challenges is essential to create a cumulative impact within families, society and at the national level. Additionally, we must explore how technology, (e.g., digital platforms for agricultural knowledge sharing) could help bridge the gender gap in agriculture and make women’s contributions more visible.
Acknowledgements:
This blog is part of the CGIAR Initiative on Asian Mega-Deltas, specifically Work Package 4, which focuses on facilitating joined-up, gender-equitable, and inclusive deltaic systems governance.
