Gender and food security

Ranjani.K.Murthy and Mercy Kappen

Objectives

• To understand gender issues in food security with a focus on food production, food access, and food utilisation

Social relations and institutions responsible for Nagamma’s and her family’s food insecurity

• Market• Commu-nity

• Family• State

• Inter-state org.

Caste Class

GenderMarital status

Gender adverse coping mechanisms

• Pulling daughter out of school

• Selling cow normally managed by women

Summing up

• Different social relations and institutions are responsible for food insecurity and gender issues in food insecurity

Gender issues in food production

Land

Decisions

Credit

Irrigation

cooperatives

Men

Production

Small livestock

Small cash crops

Women

Gender issues in food access

Sphere Who is responsible

Men Women

Decision making on how much to keep for consumption

_/ *

Access to income to buy grains

More Less

Purchase of grains Large Small

Control over ration card MHH more FHH less

Gender issues in food utilization

Post harvest

processing

fuel

water

Cooking

Eat less, last

Gender issues in food utilization

Reproductive work

Girls Pulled out

Lesser access to MDMS

Trends

• In the last ten years, food security situation has become worse

• Affecting women and girls more than men and boys

Arguments for addressing gender and food security

Efficiency

Effectiveness

Equity