Gender Focus within Livelihoods

Gender Focus within Livelihoods

CYSD focuses on both farm and non-farm sectors of livelihoods. Within the farming sector, CYSD aims to look at each of its interventions from a gender perspective.

Livelihoods – Farming Sector

Farmers Organisations:

CYSD has helped to establish farmer’s organisations in the communities it works with. As it is acknowledged that women do over 80% of the work on the land, CYSD tries to ensure sufficient female representation on the farmer’s organisations. These organisations receive training on various farming techniques and are brought on exposure visits to areas where “best practice” in farming can be seen.

Grain Banks:

To improve food security throughout the year, CYSD has helped communities establish grain banks in their villages. These are usually managed by SHGs or by Farmers Organizations. CYSD tries to ensure a balance of men and women managing the grain banks.

Kitchen Gardens:

Women have been trained on maintaining kitchen gardens to meet many of the food needs of families. The reason for the focus on women is because these gardens are located close to the house, where women feel comfortable working.

Livelihoods – Non-farm sector

Self Help Groups:

CYSD has promoted female self help groups to give women the opportunity to be involved in income generating activities, but also to give them an opportunity to work as a group and demand their rights. When these groups are initially established, the male members of the household tend to control their finances. However, as the groups have grown stronger, and women have become more empowered, they have had more control and have become more financially independent.