Gender-friendly seed production trainings help Bangladeshi women own their future

Gender disparity manifests in various ways, one of those being giving women limited access to knowledge and skills development. This is one of the reasons for their marginal social status. One way of addressing the issue is by training women in relevant subjects that positively impact their livelihood and pave the path for enhancing their socio-economic status.

Gender disparity manifests in various ways, one of those being giving women limited access to knowledge and skills development. This is one of the reasons for their marginal social status. One way of addressing the issue is by training women in relevant subjects that positively impact their livelihood and pave the path for enhancing their socio-economic status.

Gender-breaking approaches
The agriculture sector in Bangladesh is highly dependent on women farmers, yet their contribution is unacknowledged. The women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index for Bangladesh is 0.66 and the Genuine Progress Indicator is 61%. It reflects the poor state of gender parity in the country and the agriculture sector in particular.

While numerous training programs have been organized for women farmers, the outcomes and usefulness of these activities have not been evaluated.

Given the low literacy rate among women in rural areas, the impact of their participation in training activities is a big question. In such a scenario, well-planned training programs using appropriate training aids are critical. To spur gender equality and women empowerment in the agriculture sector, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) continuously provides groundbreaking approaches.

Rice is one of the predominant crops in Bangladesh. Making improved seed quality available to farmers has been a proven strategy for enhancing agricultural productivity because 30% to 60% percent of farmers use low-quality seeds obtained from informal sources. This compromises the quantity and quality of their harvest.