Exclusion of women in irrigation schemes

The aim of this post is to provide a brief insight into women’s water needs for productive activities, such as irrigation, looking beyond the reproductive, domestic activities. The post will begin by exploring women’s need for water for both productive and reproductive activities. Secondly, it will discuss the link between land and water rights. Finally, the major impediments in inclusionary irrigation will be briefly discussed.

Productive and reproductive activities

In many parts of Africa, women are expected to take responsibility for domestic tasks while the males perform the role of breadwinners. Therefore, it is assumed that working in a farm is a masculine job. Men are seen as the main farmers, while women are expected as merely assist as a secondary farmer, in addition to doing the housework (Zwarteveen,1997). So a woman’s interest and need for water is often confined to the domestic domain.  Some agencies may use this narrow focus as a basis for the allocation of water and so help reinforce the idea of women as housekeepers and therefore disregard their potential for production activities (Rathgeber, 1996).

However, women have always used water for both household use and productive farming activities. In many rural female-headed households, women will work in farms as the sole providers for the family. For example, Schaap et al (1994, cited in Van Koppen, 1998) found that widows in Niger relied solely on irrigated faming for their livelihood. Furthermore, in poorer areas where the man’s income is not enough to sustain the family, women are required to work in farms and contribute to the financial running of the household (Van Koppen, 1998). So like men, women also have an interest in accessing an managing water for irrigation

Land and water rights

Another, important factor that hinders women’s participation in productive irrigation activities is women’s lack of land rights. In many countries in Africa, land right is generally a precursor for water right. Women don’t usually own land and when they are involved in farming practices, it is often in their husband’s or fathers land. This puts them in a vulnerable position as any change in position of their relationships (for example, separation or divorce) with her husband could result in her land access being taken away(IFAD,2007). In addition, without land rights, it becomes difficult, if not impossible to get memberships to water user associations or credit for agriculture. As a consequence, women are reduced to a secondary participant with little or no control over water management.

So what can be done?

1)    First and foremost, I feel that it is important to categorise women beyond the domestic sphere and agencies should recognise their potential as productive and effective farmers.

2)    Secondly, effective targeting and prioritising allocation to women-  land and water rights should be allocated on a needs-based analysis Van Koppen, 1998). Furthermore, plots given to women should be the same size as those provide to men In a small-scale rice irrigation schemes in central Burkino Faso, women were given the rights to 0.5 out of 50 land plots (Projet Sensibilisation, 1993).

3)    Furthermore, the number of women on the scheme should be representative of the local population. Secondly, women need to be involved in the decision making process – ensuring these schemes are not only gender aware but participatory (see blog 2).

4)    Women’s land rights should be protected - once land and water rights have been allocated, the women should be provided with legal protection to maintain her rights (IFAD,2007).

5)    Rights for non-land users- irrigation agencies need to extend water rights beyond land owners to include land users to (IFAD,2007)

IFAD, 2007. Gender and water: securing water for improved rural livelihoods. Rome: IFAD.

Projet Sensibilisation et Formation, 1993. Attribution des parcelles aux femmes dans les périmètres en aval des barrages: Possibilités et limites

Projet Sensibilisation et Formation des Paysans Autour Des Barrages, Ouagadougou (1993)

Rathgeber, E., 1996. Women, men, and water-resource management in Africa. Water management in Africa and the Middle East: Challenges and opportunities. Rached E., Rathgeber EM and Brooks D.(eds). International Development Research Center, Ottawa, Canada, pp.49-69.

Van Koppen, B., 1998. Water rights, gender, and poverty alleviation. Inclusion and exclusion of women and men smallholders in public irrigation infrastructure development. Agriculture and Human Values, 15(4), pp.361-374.

Zwarteveen, M.Z., 1997. Water: From basic need to commodity: A discussion on gender and water rights in the context of irrigation. World development, 25(8), pp.1335-1349.