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Rural women in Sri Lanka's post-conflict rural economy

Year of publication 2006

Pages 43

Author L. Wanasundera

Product type Book (stand-alone)

Series title RAP Publication

Series number 1020-6221|1014-2789|18194591|0428-9560

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) The major objective of this publication was to assess the situation of rural women in those areas of Sri Lanka emerging from armed conflict. Post-conflict areas need major rehabilitation and reconstruction interventions to achieve normalcy, especially in agriculture where about 80 percent of the population is dependent on farming. Field assessments show that women’s productive activities in all locations equal that of men. Yet as income earners there is no equality between men and women. In proj ect proposals women are subsumed under households; services and projects target the household head who is usually male. When women are identified as beneficiaries, the major focus is on widows and female headed households, ignoring the overwhelming number of poor women who contribute to the household economy and bear major responsibility in the domestic sphere. Women’s membership is limited in farmers’ organizations and they rarely hold positions of authority. Critical needs articulated by women were for an uninterrupted water supply, access to markets, fair prices, post-harvest storage facilities, information and knowledge and the availability of credit. Women also need skill development and identification of alternative income generating activities. The publication recommendations gender mainstreaming initiatives that should be adopted by the Government and advocates increasing women’s participation in local government through women’s rural development societies.

Language English

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