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Article

7 Oct 2017

Author:
Leong Yee Ting, The Jakarta Post

Commentary: Indonesia: Women farmers lack access to credit, leadership & decision-making; at times unpaid or paid less than men

"Female farmers face multi-layered struggle", 7 October 2017

…Indonesian female farmers continue to struggle in many ways. …They lack access to land, credit and extension services.

In 2003, only one-third of land title certificates in Java was owned by women.

This unequal access to land means unequal access to credit, since land certificates are needed for collateral.

…There is this assumption that agricultural work performed by women is seen as secondary to their domestic responsibilities or male involvement in agriculture….

Women conspicuously lack access to leadership and decision-making, despite being significant players.

Female farmers are also expected to bear the double burdens of domestic and agricultural work. At times, they are unpaid or paid less than men….

Empowerment of female farmers will reap tremendous benefits for all stakeholders. If women have greater access, their agricultural and domestic productivity will increase….

It has been shown that increases in a woman’s income and assets can improve the welfare of her household more significantly than that of increases in men’s income.

Policymakers need to ensure that female farmers have access to the crucial resources and leadership.

…The most vulnerable female farmers probably reside in the eastern parts of Indonesia.

..In Southern Central Timor, women become malnourished during droughts because they are usually the last ones to eat in the family.