Gender, climate change and agriculture
This special issue of Gender Technology and Development explores gender-based disparities in resource access and its contribution to uneven production levels between men and women. As farmers continue to develop methods of climate change adaptation, unequal access to resources could prevent women from adapting at the same pace as their male counterparts. Findings presented in the special issue demonstrate that providing women with engagement opportunities and adaptation resources will greatly reduce the variance in agricultural productivity between men and women, which currently range from four to 25 percent globally. For instance, research shows that in comparison to men, women have limited access to irrigation, information and communication technologies (ICTs), and extension services. Furthermore, the available agricultural technologies do not take into account the specific needs of women. Technologies that focus on large-scale agricultural enterprises, for instance, are often not appropriate for women, who are more likely to be in charge of smaller plots of land. The issue contains articles on the role of mobile phones to improve climate information services in a gender-inclusive manner; the importance of of the role of men in households and communities when improving food security and building adaptive capacity; on the possibly negative impact of gender-sensitive climate change adaptation technologies on traditional gender roles.