Professionals in their field: Women vegetable farmers in Nepal

Abstract

PROFESSIONALS IN THEIR FIELD: WOMEN VEGETABLE FARMERS IN NEPAL Ashley L. Honsberger Advisor: University of Guelph, 2015 Glen Filson As such, this thesis uses descriptive analysis to determine the level of agency that women experience from market-oriented vegetable farming. The research methods include participant observation, farmer interviews, key informant interviews and critical discourse analysis. Using a force field framework of enabling and disenabling factors to analyze the findings, the analysis investigates actors in the local value chain and their influence on the livelihoods of women smallholders. The findings suggest that women have the same potential to become entrepreneurs as men, and they strive to become Professional Farmers. The methodology for change is through sustained, quality training that allows women to subvert gender roles by assuming the identity of a Professional Farmer. While women and men also find success through working in harmony, women need to push back against the patriarchal norms that systemically oppress them. In this way, women’s own notions of empowerment become part of the development process.