Blog 3

Summary

This presentation focuses on a study conducted in Java, Indonesia, examining gender dynamics in pest and disease management, particularly in the roles of plant protection officers. The study explores how male and female officers provide technical support, access training, and face gender-based challenges. Findings reveal that male officers offer more frequent and diverse support, while female officers encounter barriers like caregiving duties and safety concerns. Recommendations include improving flexible training, creating gender-sensitive policies, and enhancing women farmer groups. The study highlights the need for equitable support to overcome these barriers and improve pest management outcomes.

Takeaways

• 😀 Gender dynamics significantly impact the delivery of pest and disease management support in Java, Indonesia, with male officers providing more frequent technical support compared to female officers.
• 😀 Women plant protection officers face challenges such as heavier workloads and mobility restrictions, which limit their ability to provide consistent support.
• 😀 Male officers utilize a wider range of tools (digital platforms, printed materials) for pest and disease management, while female officers prefer interactive methods but face resource and time constraints.
• 😀 Gender norms affect farmers' trust in women officers, with male farmers often doubting the expertise of female officers, which hinders effective support delivery.
• 😀 Women officers often rely on alternative methods, such as reaching out to women farmers through women’s groups, due to barriers like mobility and safety concerns.
• 😀 Both men and women officers prefer face-to-face interactions for more effective pest management support, but women face additional barriers when conducting these interactions.
• 😀 Women officers face difficulties attending in-person training due to caregiving responsibilities and logistical concerns, leading to a greater reliance on peer learning and self-study.
• 😀 There is a need for flexible and accessible training models that consider gendered responsibilities, such as online platforms or mentoring programs for women officers.
• 😀 Gender roles and stereotypes contribute to women officers avoiding remote or nighttime assignments due to safety concerns and harassment from male farmers.
• 😀 Recommendations include strengthening women farmer groups, improving access to flexible training formats, and implementing gender-sensitive workplace policies to ensure a safer and more inclusive working environment for women officers.

Q & A

What is the role of extension officers in the context of pest and disease management in Java, Indonesia?

Extension officers are frontline workers who connect farmers with new technology, information, and government support. They play a key role in delivering support, especially for pest and disease management, in Indonesia. Specifically, plant protection officers are responsible for providing technical support on pest and disease management.

How did gender dynamics affect the delivery of technical support by male and female officers?

The study found that male officers tend to provide daily technical support more frequently than female officers. Female officers often face barriers such as heavier workloads and limited mobility, which reduce their ability to provide equal support. As a result, their assistance is typically provided weekly or on demand. Both genders prefer face-to-face interactions, but women face more challenges in conducting these interactions.

What alternative support methods do female officers use due to their constraints?

Female officers often use more interactive methods such as group consultations, particularly focusing on women farmer groups. Due to constraints like time and resources, they are less likely to use digital platforms or printed materials compared to their male counterparts.

How do gender norms affect farmers' engagement with female plant protection officers?

Gender norms affect farmers' engagement by creating trust barriers for female officers, especially with male farmers. Male farmers may doubt the expertise of female officers, requiring the women to build trust over time. Women farmers also often lack decision-making power, limiting their involvement in pest management decisions.

What challenges did female officers face in accessing training and information?

Female officers face more challenges in attending in-person training sessions due to caregiving responsibilities and logistical constraints, such as safety concerns when traveling to remote areas. As a result, they tend to rely more on peer learning and self-directed study to update their technical knowledge.

How does the caregiving role of women affect their professional development?

Women's unpaid caregiving responsibilities restrict their professional development by limiting their ability to participate in formal, in-person training sessions. This highlights the need for more flexible and accessible training models that accommodate these gendered responsibilities.

What are some institutional challenges faced by female officers?

Female officers experience additional challenges such as balancing work and caregiving duties, avoiding remote or nighttime assignments due to safety concerns, and facing harassment from male farmers. These limitations reduce their ability to engage fully with male farmers, who are often the key decision-makers in households.

What are some recommendations for improving gender-responsive extension services?

Recommendations include implementing more women farmer groups, improving access to flexible training formats, and offering better institutional support. Women farmers and officers need access to both online and offline training to accommodate their caregiving roles and logistical challenges. Policies should be more gender-sensitive, including safer transportation options and flexible working arrangements for female officers.

How did the study suggest addressing the low confidence levels among some farmers?

The study identified that a significant portion of farmers, particularly 20-25%, lacked confidence in applying techniques they learned or sharing knowledge. The reasons for this lack of confidence were not fully explored, but it was noted that personal networks, community involvement, and mentorship programs could help address this issue.

What was the conclusion regarding the effectiveness of women farmer groups?

The study concluded that women farmer groups are effective for building skills and confidence, particularly in countries like the Philippines. These groups can facilitate knowledge transfer, provide support for women in accessing training, and create a safe space for women to engage in agricultural extension services.