Shedding Light on the Gender Gap in Cambodia's Agriculture Sector - A Case of Agricultural Cooperation in Kampong Cham Province

抄録

This study deals with the status of women who engage in agricultural practices in Kampong Cham Province, Cambodia. Specifically, it dissects the selection processes to determine which gives participant farmers access to training opportunities provided by an international non-governmental organization. The research was conducted to provide gender-disaggregated data while elucidating the gender gap that exists in opportunities for equal participation in and access to training and women's role within Cambodia's agricultural sector based on data analysis for the baseline survey and key informant interviews. This study concludes that there are specific gender roles, norms and biases, either visible or invisible, embedded and/or expected in the local community. These traits were manifested by participant farmers as well as officers who were responsible in selecting farmers. Individual interview revealed that gender norms regarding men as the head of the house and illiteracy were mentioned as two possible factors hindering women from participating in agricultural training, but when leaders who were responsible in selecting farmers were mindful about equal gender ratio, they could bring equal numbers of female participants. In order to ensure gender equality in access to skills development opportunities in the agricultural sector, trainings should focus on building effective program, and optimizing and acknowledging current female farmers' roles and contributions in the agricultural and development sector of the rural economy.