Feminisation in Agriculture in a Transition Economy: Women’s Role in Family Farms

Abstract

AbstractResearch on gender equality for several decades has observed gender roles as related to decisions, asset availability, and bargaining power. Literature examining the influence of intra‐family bargaining power and rights on farm structures is scarce. This article builds on the feminisation thesis for exploring how feminisation in agriculture has been changing women’s agency in family farms. It analyses the effect of farming decision‐making in farm structures in Albania, a post‐communist transition country undergoing rural depopulation and migration. Based on data collected from structured farm surveys, an instrumental variable regression is used for exploring the relationship between women’s farming decision power and production structures. The analysis finds a positive influence of women’s decision‐making power on farms oriented to orchards, and a negative influence on farms oriented to forage (livestock‐oriented farms) and farms with uncultivated (abandoned) land. Women’s farming decision‐making power is highly influenced by their education, perception of land rights equality, and access to advisory services. The article provides evidence for interventions including institutional support to strengthen land rights, empowering women farmers through training, awareness campaigns, and advocacy activities.