Women in irrigation - literature review
In the last decade, development literature has seen increased interest in gender issues throughout rural development projects. The Women in Irrigation Literature Review concentrates primarily on work relating directly to gender issues in irrigated agriculture but also includes more general rural and agricultural development material where their content was seen to be relevant. The review will be of particular use to agricultural development workers in the smallholder irrigation sector, but will also be of interest to anyone interested in gender issues.
Background
Agricultural development workers in the smallholder sector are aware of the disproportionate input women make to production relative to the benefits accruing to them. This is particularly true in smallholder irrigated agriculture where women do 60% to 90% of the fieldwork. It is also widely appreciated that many smallholder irrigation projects have not only failed to benefit women, but have, in some cases, eroded their rights, encouraged exploitation of their labour and increased poverty for both women and children.

The review
The review, produced in 1996, identified current knowledge on the subject of women in irrigation.

The review concentrates primarily on writings relating directly to gender issues in irrigated agriculture, but also includes more general rural and agricultural development material where content is seen to be relevant. Entries of special interest are followed by an abstract.

What it covers
The review begins by summarising the main findings under the following headings:

  • Women’s workloads
  • Education and literacy
  • Extension
  • Credit
  • Benefits, rights and obligations
  • Participation in water resource decisions and policies
    		•   The findings are supported by a succinct index of references, numbered from 1 to 164, which provide information on the; Title, Author, Reference Number and Page Number.

    Further information is provided in a more extensive index, including; Publisher, Year, Number of pages, ISBN number, Language and Volume number. Where possible abstracts are included.

    The Country Index lists all reference numbers related to any one country. A Subject, Organisation Index and Author Index are also included to facilitate location of references.

    Contributors
    HR Wallingford Ltd, UK.

    Intended users
    The literature review is aimed at agricultural development workers in the smallholder irrigation sector. The review, however, may also be of use to anyone with an interest in gender issues.

    Bagenholm, C and Chancellor, F, 1996. Women in irrigation - literature review. HR Wallingford, UK. Report no ODTN 80.

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