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Small-scale farming and gender-friendly agricultural technologies: the interplay between gender, labour, caste, policy and practice

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Regina Hansda

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This is the authors' accepted manuscript of an article that has been published in its final definitive form by Taylor and Francis, 2018.

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Abstract

In this paper, I examine the interplay among gender, labour, and technology within an emerging, alternative, rice-growing technique called the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) to understand how in situations of agrarian transition, technology affects and influences social dynamics. The technology under consideration in this paper is a small, labour-saving device, called the weeder, seemingly suitable for smallholder farmers, and often projected as a gender-friendly device. The purpose of this paper is two-fold. First, to discuss and demonstrate how intersections of gender, caste and class issues even within agro-ecological farming practices can result in experiences that can be highly differentiated. Second, to question and argue against the naturalization and/or apparent lack of problematization of production of such social difference and material outcomes. The paper draws theoretical insights from feminist political ecology (FPE) and feminist technology studies (FTS) and is based on an extended ethnographic fieldwork in Bihar, India.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Hansda R

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Gender, Technology and Development

Year: 2018

Volume: 21

Issue: 3

Pages: 189-205

Online publication date: 13/02/2018

Acceptance date: 13/01/2018

Date deposited: 08/05/2018

ISSN (print): 0971-8524

ISSN (electronic): 0973-0656

Publisher: Taylor and Francis

URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/09718524.2018.1434990

DOI: 10.1080/09718524.2018.1434990

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