Gender roles in agroforestry systems of Ayodhya district, Uttar Pradesh

This study was conducted in all the eleven blocks of Ayodhya district of Uttar Pradesh for a period of two years using questionnaire surveys to study the gender roles in agroforestry systems and tree management, preferences of tree species, access to resources and participation in decision-making, gendered rights to harvesting and processing of agroforestry tree products, marketing of products, spaces and ownership of trees and identified the factors hindering gender adoption of agroforestry and evaluated its implications for agroforestry interventions. The males were involved in majority of the agroforestry activities such as ploughing, tree planting, fertilization, pruning, harvesting, transport and sales. Males had greater access to land ownership, land transfer rights, loan and irrigation facilities. The decision on planting of species, which area to plant, how many numbers of plants to be planted, irrigation, pruning, harvesting and sale was mostly taken by males whereas the females took decision on the season of planting, financial management, fertilizer application and processing. Males enjoyed the rights of harvesting, marketing and tree ownership and the females had the right of processing agroforestry products. Females preferred fruit bearing trees whereas the men preferred timber-yielding trees. Family opposition and limited cash availability was seen as a hindrance by the females in adoption of agroforestry systems and they stressed on policy interventions to improve the adoption rate of agroforestry systems. The societal pressure restricts the females from becoming financial independent and decision makers. High level policy intervention and changes in social behaviour and attitudes is required to cherish the dream of women empowerment in this region.