Is It Really Feminization of Agriculture? The Issue of Household Food Security in Lesotho’s Southern Lowland District

Abstract

The study assessed the roles of women and the ownership of land trends in Lesotho, particularly during the 2015/2016 drought in Lesotho. A mixed-method approach, which combined both qualitative and quantitative research approaches, and a semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The collected data included demographic information, household assets, gender roles in agricultural activities, and decision-making in the household to explore feminization of agriculture and its impact on household food security in Lesotho, particularly Maneo village in the Mohales’ Hoek district. The results showed that even though the women were the majority of farmers, they were not involved in decision-making, did not own the land, lacked farming implements, used poor and archaic farming methods, and were subjected to institutionalized gender discrimination. This resulted in a food deficit, worsened by the drought in the southern districts, particularly in Maneo village. Despite the fact that land was owned by men, the women worked hard without having any rights to land ownership. This contributed to women’s poverty. The study recommended including gender role assessments and clarity on gendered policies addressing discrimination in Lesotho, especially for women.

Effects of livestock ownership typology on household food security in rural Lesotho

“…A study revealed that 14% of the population in Lesotho faces food insecurity (FAO, 2023). The occurrence of droughts and floods, insufficient agricultural techniques, high food prices, and global economic downturns have worsened food insecurity in the Southern Africa Developing Community (SADC) region, including Lesotho (Mokati et al, 2022).…”

Gendered effects of land access and ownership on food security in rural settings in South Africa

“…A substantial body of evidence indicates that women run less than 25% of agricultural businesses in developing nations. Moreover, "women in the developing world are five times less likely than men to own land, and [if they do] their farms are often smaller and less fertile" (Doss et al, 2015;Mokati et al, 2022). In this context, Agarwal (2018) argues that uneven access to ownership of land in rural areas, which is mandated by patriarchal-oriented customary norms, has resulted in low agricultural production and ongoing food insecurity in many households on the African continent.…”