Gender-Mainstreaming and Agricultural Development in Asia: Can It Make a Difference?

Women’s empowerment is a global trend. However, I have noticed that when dealing with women’s empowerment in development programs, and more precisely agricultural development, its definition remains either blurry or limited. For it being either the main goal of a project or an intermediate goal – meaning the first step to reaching a more general goal – women’s empowerment can imply various implementation tools, activities, quantitative indicators. No matter the shape or form it takes, gender inclusion in the agricultural development field is not only essential but also urgent. In the following pages, I will explore the necessity to include gender in the conception and implementation of agricultural development programs in Asian societies…