Gender inequality in agrifood systems in Latin America and the Caribbean
In this study by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (spanish only), the value chains of cassava (Belize), quinoa (Bolivia), corn (Guatemala) and the regional cultivation of cotton are examined from a gender perspective, to enhance their sustainability. The FAO study notes that participation of women is more pronounced in activities that involve time and physical effort, such as planting, weeding and harvesting. According to FAO, the strategic integration of the gender perspective in national agrifood systems can lead to a substantial improvement in the competitiveness of markets, particularly those where women can offer their products without the intervention of intermediaries. The gender perspective applied to value chains can recognize the different roles assumed by women and men in the various links in the production chain and their impact on countries agrifood systems.