Vol.4, No. 2, 2008 ISSN 1822-3346 Economics and Rural Development WOMEN FARMERS IN UZBEKISTAN: EXPERIENCE DURING THE PERIOD OF INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS Dinara Alimdjanova Tashkent Gender Study Centre, Uzbekistan In the agricultural sector in Uzbekistan, Government policy aimed at the improvement of women’s status and increasing women’s involvement in economic, political and social life is in conflict with the constraints of a patriarchal society. This paper pre- sents the results of a gender analysis of the situation, based on the findings from focus group discussions with women-farmers from six regions of five districts of Uzbekistan. It highlights important and previously shadowy gender aspects of rural development and concludes that the potential of rural women’s economic status and involvement has not yet been reached. The data demonstrate that the processes of reform in rural areas have encountered difficulties and that rural women’s employment and education are still under the influence of gender stereotypes related to the women’s role in a patriarchal society. The specific features of rural women’s em- ployment (low level of employment and economic activity, high unemployment, occupation of low paid positions) are in many re- spects related to women’s lack of professional education. Based on these findings, the paper makes some recommendations on how to increase the participation of women in rural development. Key words : women farmers, gender stereotypes, Uzbekistan. JEL classification : J710. Introduction 1 labour. Women are mostly employed in low paid state sec- tors of the economy, such as education, health care and ag- In order to achieve the goal of national development as riculture. The wide range of women’s duties in the house- well as to meet the global aims specified in the Millennium hold does not allow them to be active in the labour market Declaration and the Poverty Reduction Strategy, the Gov- and prevents them from looking for a job. In such condi- ernment of Uzbekistan has demonstrated its willingness to tions, women have a garden plot and market their own ag- solve the problem of gender equality. A Decree of the ricultural products, but in many areas such employment is President of the Republic of Uzbekistan 3434, of May 25, not available due to lack of irrigation water (BWA, 2007). 2004 “On additional measures for the support of the activi- The professional qualifications of the labour force do ties of the Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan 2” addressed not meet the requirements and demands of local employers. issues related to the development and implementation of There is a shortage of highly skilled workers and engineers national policy in the area of social and legal support for in the industrial sectors, a lack of trained specialists in agri- women, improvement of social and public activity of cultural specialisations, such as agronomists, zootechnics women, their participation in state building; development and veterinary, hydromelioration, plant protection and seri- and implementation of measures and programmes directed culture (Statistical Office, 2007). Other sectors, such as to securing of women’s employment, improving working construction and communication, housing and utilities, are conditions and educating women (especially in remote ar- also experiencing a lack of high quality specialists. Many of eas), as well as attracting them to business activity; organ- these specialties are gender ‘neutral’; however, under the ising effective work in targeted areas (family, makhallas, influence of gender stereotypes, specifically in rural areas, workplaces, educational institutions), on explanation and these professions do not attract women (ADB, 2005). observance of national traditions, and the realisation and Women’s role in the household economy is very low. protection of women’s constitutional rights. Average income from women’s employment constitutes According to available data, employment among around 13%-14% of family income. Taking into account women is lower than among men, but their share in the entrepreneurial activities and social benefits (which are, structure of formal employment remained stable at 44% in most cases, given to women), women’s contribution to from 2001 to 2006 (Statistical Office, 2007). However, the family income may reach 20%. More than half of there is an imbalance in the sectoral distribution of female women’s contribution consists of social transfers (old-age pensions, disability pensions and children’s benefits) and 1 all types of women’s incomes are lower than those of Mailing address : 6/8, Alti-Tepinskiy proesd, Tashkent – 700056 Uzbekistan. Email: [email protected]. men, including income from hired employment: in the 2 Women’s Committee is one of the key institutions urged to assist in non-agricultural sector, which is less than half, and old- every way to strengthen the status of rural women. Registered as an NGO, Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan is financed by the side of age and disability pensions for women, which are 1.5 government and has authority to be a governmental institution times lower (ADB, 2008). responsible for the policy and activity in solving women’s issues. 7 Economics and Rural Development Vol.4, No. 2, 2008 ISSN 1822-3346 The lack of opportunities for effective and productive women’s involvement in farming activities, their participa- employment of rural women has an impact on poverty tion in policy reforms in agriculture, and gender aspects of levels (UNDP, 2008). Under these circumstances, alterna- rural development in Uzbekistan and (b) developing rec- tive types of individual and entrepreneurial activity are ommendations for measures to increase women’s involve- important and offer wide opportunities for the female ru- ment in rural economic development. Thus, the questions ral population to be self-employed in the non-agriculture were structured into five themes, namely: attitudes and ex- sector. The potential of rural women’s entrepreneurial ac- periences amongst women with regard to entering farming; tivities is high. In the process of reforming the agricul- crop production and processing, and farm profitability; land, tural sector a trend of growth of remuneration in the sec- labour and machinery resources available to women farm- tor emerged. However, the lower remuneration of rural ers; types of assistance available to women farmers; and fi- women still remains: the salary of women in the sector is nancial and other constraints faced by women farmers. just 82% of the salary of men (ADB, 2007a). Women constitute up to 52.6% of the population em- Table 1 . Leasehold farms run by women and leasehold farms ployed in agriculture but, out of 235.000 leasehold farms run by female heads of households, by region in Uzbekistan registered in Uzbekistan by January 2008, only 17.000 Number of Number of (7.2%) were led by women. These numbers show that re- registered leasehold farms form in rural areas and mechanisms of reorganisation of Region District leasehold run by female shirkat farms to leasehold farms took place in a way farms run by heads of house- which discouraged wide interest amongst women. The women holds process of reorganising shirkats happened on the basis of Akhangaran Tashkent 95 4 tender where special attention was given to availability of Pskent Tashkent 84 5 initial capital and equipment for the persons who wanted Ak-Altyn Samarkand 37 2 to work in farming. Awareness of agricultural production Mingbulak Namangan 50 - was examined and priority was given to former shirkat Kattakurgan Samarkand 47 - members and inhabitants of the local area. Women could Zomin Djizzak 15 2 not everywhere participate equally in tenders because tra- ditionally they do not have the required resources at their Results disposal (ADB, 2007c). Women’s involvement in farming is higher in the re- The following answers, grouped under the headings gions where women occupied managerial/decision making above, were obtained to the questions. positions during Soviet times and there is a positive stereo- type of women’s capacity and work effectiveness in agri- Attitudes and experiences amongst women with re- culture. For example, 95 private farms headed by women gard to entering farming are registered in Ahangaran region, 84 women’s farms are ♦ In your opinion, how attractive is farming to registered in Piskent region (both regions are in Tashkent women? Most women stated that after the status of farmer viloyat); whilst in one of the regions of Feghana valley has been obtained, they felt positive changes related to (Mingbulak) 50 women are acting as private farmers. More the reforms in agriculture sector. Specifically, women successful female farmers are former leading kolkhoz (col- stated that having worked on their land they could see the lective farm) workers, who started working in the fields af- tangible results of their work and gained an opportunity ter graduation from professional colleges and their average to improve the welfare of their families. Women talked age varies from 45 to 70 years (ADB, 2007a). with pride about the opportunity to pay the tuition of their This paper reports the results of a series of focus- sons’ study in prestigious universities of Uzbekistan. The group discussions, structured into a number of topics, opportunity to lead a leasehold farm independently gen- with women-farmers in Uzbekistan which were held to erates a certain interest for women; however, most of the identify the status of women’s farming activities during female farmers questioned represent an older generation institutional reforms in agriculture. Based on the findings, (45-69 years). These are mostly former leading kolkhoz it makes some recommendations on how to increase the members who have long experience of land working and participation of women in rural development. have relevant professional knowledge and diplomas from agricultural technical schools. Only one farmer among Methodology those questioned, who was 32 years old, combines work- ing on her leasehold farm with working in the local The survey methodology included conducting focus- branch of a bank.