Changing Livelihoods, Livestock and Local Knowledge Systems: Women Stake their Claim in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra

Abstract

This paper discusses women's role, resource access control and decision-making power in the context of rapid changes in rural livelihoods, local knowledge systems and NRM. Participatory research was carried out in collaboration with NGOs and community-based organisations in six distinct agro-ecological regions of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, with a focus on eco nomically and socially marginalised communities. The research revealed that state policies have resulted in dramatic changes from food to commercial crops. This has threatened food and fodder security, the biodiversity of crops, natural flora, local livestock and poultry breeds, and led to unsustainable extraction of ground water and high levels of indebtedness. Women have borne the brunt. Women who formerly played key decision-making roles have been marginalised, their knowledge and expertise made valueless. Traditionally also women have been denied access to certain kinds of knowledge that constrain their livelihoods. Participatory research has empow ered women to take the lead in movements to challenge mainstream paradigms of sustainable development.

A scoping review of participatory research methods in agroecology studies conducted in South Asia

“…Table 3 includes a summary of the participatory research methods used in each study. The most reported method was Participatory Rural Appraisal (7/27 studies) (Banik et al 2006;Kashem and Islam 1999;Rafiq, Najeeb, and Sheikh et al 2016;Ramdas, Deepika, and Deepika 2001;Reddy et al 2016;Singh, Singh, and Pandey 2014;Singh and Sureja 2008). Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) is an approach that enables farmers (and rural communities) to assess their own situation and contribute knowledge and opinions into the planning and management of natural resource management and agriculture (Better Evaluation.…”

“…Table 3 presents key characteristics of the 27 studies included in this scoping review. The studies were conducted in four South Asian countries: India (n = 20) (Banerjee et al 2014;Banik et al 2006;Bhatta et al 2017;Bijarniya, Parihar, and Jat et al 2020;Bisht, Rana, and Pal Ahlawat 2020;Bonny et al 2005;Borah et al 2018;Chakraborty and Chaudhuri 2018;Friedrichsen et al 2021;Gangwar, Tyagi, and Soni 2020;Kumar et al 2019;Maikhuri, Rao, and Semwal 2001;Meinke et al 2006;Rafiq, Najeeb, and Sheikh et al 2016;Ramdas, Deepika, and Deepika 2001;Rawat et al 2010;Reddy et al 2016;Singh, Gohain, and Datta 2016;Singh, Singh, and Pandey 2014;Singh and Sureja 2008), Nepal (n = 5) (Bhatta et al 2017;Gartaula et al 2020;Pant et al 2014;Yadav et al 2018Yadav et al -1, 2018, Bangladesh (n = 3) (Bhatta et al 2017;Ferdous et al 2016;Kashem and Islam 1999) and Sri Lanka (n = 1) (Williams et al 2018). We were unable to identify any relevant studies conducted in Afghanistan, Bhutan, Pakistan or the Maldives.…”

Role of Women in Sericulture and Community Development

“…The epistemological debates on the issues of division of labor in Indian society have been critically examined by the scholars of sociology and social anthropology (Amer, 2009; Arya, 2007; Channa, 1997; Damodaran, 2002; Datta & Sinha, 1997; Everingham, 2002; Gate, 2001; Goyal, 2007; Illo, 1994; Jose, 2003; Kelkar, 2007; Mandal, 2010; Padhi, 2007; Ramdas, Yakshi, & Deepika, 2001; Rao, 2001; Rustagi, 2004; Shah, 2000; N. M. Singh, 2001; D.…”

Local Knowledge and Natural Resource Management

“…In this regard, Ramdas et al (2001) expose an interesting case of women getting excluded from acquiring specialised knowledge relating to traditional healing of livestock animals in various regions of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Women who were involved in the day-to-day care of animals and other management activities of domestic livestock were entirely dependent on their husbands or the native animal healers (almost always men) for the treatment of sick animals, as the knowledge of healing was traditionally transmitted mainly from fathers to sons.…”