PPP and Gender Mainstreaming in Agriculture: Lessons from Field Studies

Abstract

This study undertaken by Directorate of Research on Women in Agriculture (DRWA), Bhubaneswar, during 2009 to 2013 has assessed the ongoing public-private partnership (PPP) models in agriculture for their role in women empowerment and has analysed the strengths and weaknesses of the selected models. Three such models discussed in the paper are: (i) DRWA implemented model for gender mainstreaming through cultivation of quality protein maize (QPM) in Khurda district of Odisha, (ii) Avinashilingam Institute for Women, Coimbatore undertaken action research model on empowering women vegetable growers, and (iii) Assam Agricultural University model on use of vermi-compost in Jorhat district of Assam. Experiences in these PPPs have shown that farmers, especially farm women, could reap the benefits of increased production and productivity of farm enterprises from even a small piece of land apart from their better social recognition and group dynamics. Field studies have shown the contribution of PPP models to gender mainstreaming, food security, poverty reduction and economic growth. However, over emphasis on quality, grading and timely supply is making some farmers to revert back to old system of marketing.