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CONSTRAINTS TO WOMEN’S INVOLVEMENT IN SMALL SCALE AQUACULTURE: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY
Abstract
Aquaculture as a weapon to fight malnutrition and poverty has been recognized in developing countries. Both public as well as private sector have been actively involved in promoting small scale aquaculture among women through training and demonstration with a view to empower them socially as well as economically. The review was conducted on women, involved in small scale aquaculture, in south-east Asian countries and contributes substantially in aquaculture development. It reveals that women’s involvement is hindered by several socio-economic constraints. Besides, there are certain policy related and infrastructural issues that come in the way of enhancing women’s role in aquaculture. These are: low literacy; poor access to resources technology and market; lack of government strategies; lack of women extension workers; inadequate access to credit etc. Several researchers have identified that lack of government strategies to address gender issues and lack of suitable mechanisms as major constraints faced by women in aquaculture. The article suggests a few measures that may help minimizing the constraints faced by women. It is argued that organizing women into groups and linking them with microfinance institutions will go a long way in empowering women in aquaculture.
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