Changing Livelihoods, Livestock and Local Knowledge Systems: Women Stake their Claim in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra

Sagari R. Ramdas, Yakshi and Girijana Deepika
Additional contact information
Sagari R. Ramdas: Anthra, 124 Vayupuri, Secunderabad 500 094, Andhra Pradesh
Yakshi: 124 Vayupuri, Secunderabad 500 094, Andhra Pradesh
Girijana Deepika: Village and Post D. Bhimavaram, Addateegala Mandal, East Godavari District 533 428, Andhra Pradesh

Indian Journal of Gender Studies, 2001, vol. 8, issue 2, 175-194

Abstract: This paper discusses women's role, resource access control and decision-making power in the context of rapid changes in rural livelihoods, local knowledge systems and NRM. Participatory research was carried out in collaboration with NGOs and community-based organisations in six distinct agro-ecological regions of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, with a focus on eco nomically and socially marginalised communities. The research revealed that state policies have resulted in dramatic changes from food to commercial crops. This has threatened food and fodder security, the biodiversity of crops, natural flora, local livestock and poultry breeds, and led to unsustainable extraction of ground water and high levels of indebtedness. Women have borne the brunt. Women who formerly played key decision-making roles have been marginalised, their knowledge and expertise made valueless. Traditionally also women have been denied access to certain kinds of knowledge that constrain their livelihoods. Participatory research has empow ered women to take the lead in movements to challenge mainstream paradigms of sustainable development.

Date: 2001
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/097152150100800202 (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:indgen:v:8:y:2001:i:2:p:175-194

DOI: 10.1177/097152150100800202

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Indian Journal of Gender Studies from Centre for Women's Development Studies
Bibliographic data for series maintained by SAGE Publications ().