Gender-Specific Technologies
🔹 Definition: Gender-specific technologies are tools, equipment, and innovations designed keeping in mind the physical, social, and economic needs of women, especially in agriculture, household, and allied sectors.
🔧 Why Needed?
- Most farm tools are designed for men → not ergonomically suitable for women.
- Women engage in labour-intensive tasks (e.g., weeding, transplanting).
- Aim is to reduce drudgery, increase productivity, and ensure equal participation.
🌾 Examples of Gender-Specific Technologies in Agriculture:
|
Activity |
Gender-Specific Technology |
Developed by |
|
Weeding |
Cono weeder, wheel hoe |
TNAU, CIAE |
|
Transplanting |
Drum seeder, mat nursery method |
ICAR Institutes |
|
Harvesting |
Improved sickles (serrated edges) |
CIAE Bhopal |
|
Threshing |
Pedal-operated threshers |
ICAR-CIAE |
|
Cooking/energy saving |
Improved smokeless chulhas |
MNRE, NGOs |
|
Water carrying |
Head-load reduction devices (like trolley) |
Rural Development NGOs |
|
Fodder chopping |
Manual chaff cutters with safety features |
ICAR Institutes |
|
Storage |
Metal grain bins with improved design |
ICAR & KVKs |
- Gender Dimensions in Food and Nutritional Security
🔹 Definition: The role of gender in ensuring availability, access, utilization, and stability of food and nutrition in the household and community.
👩🌾 Role of Women in Food and Nutritional Security:
|
Function |
Women’s Contribution |
|
Food Production |
Women contribute 55–60% of farm labor. |
|
Home Gardens |
Cultivate vegetables, medicinal plants. |
|
Food Preparation |
Responsible for household cooking decisions. |
|
Nutritional Care |
Take care of children’s and family’s diet. |
|
Income Use |
Spend a higher share of income on food, health, and education. |
|
Knowledge on Nutrition |
Have indigenous knowledge about nutrition. |
Key Programs Involving Women
- Poshan Abhiyan – India’s flagship nutrition mission.
- Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) – Women as Anganwadi workers.
- SABLA Yojana – Nutrition for adolescent girls.
- Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) – Empowering women farmers.
📚 Summary Table for Quick Revision
|
Concept |
Key Focus Area |
Related Schemes/Tools |
|
Gender-Specific Technology |
Tools suited to women’s physiology & tasks |
Cono weeder, improved sickle, chulhas |
|
Gender in Nutritional Security |
Women’s role in production, food prep, care |
Poshan Abhiyan, MKSP, ICDS |
|
Challenges |
Limited access, heavy workload, less participation |
Extension gaps, policy neglect |
