This research note describes a participatory action research project that aimed to address the needs of poor women in processing rice for income generation in southwestern Bangladesh. A rice flour mill for converting rice grains into dry rice flour was introduced by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and WAVE Foundation. 1 This study revealed that this machine is technically efficient, economically viable, and socially acceptable among women operators and sellers of rice products. The portable rice flour mill provided women rice flour operators with an income, developed women's self-esteem and social status, and empowered them to make their own decisions in spending their earnings. This project, therefore, demonstrates that it is possible to address strategic gender needs through the introduction of a technology focused on practical gender needs. However, factors to consider in addressing the technological needs of poor women are as follows:
The purpose of the paper is to describe the impact of community-led action research on food security and poverty alleviation on the production decisions and food adjustment strategies of farmers in a grain-producing village in northwest Bangladesh. The study used a mixed method approach with 80 respondents for the quantitative part (survey), which are distributed equally between gono-gobeshona participants and non-participant groups, and 30 for the qualitative part (10 in-depth interviews, 4 key informant interviews, 4 focus groups, and 10 case studies). Survey responses were analyzed using SPSS software and content analysis framework was used for qualitative data. The findings show that far more households who participated in the from the gono-gobeshona make joint decisions (by both husband and wife) in various aspects of production than non-participants. Women as authority figures were higher in number among the participants than the non-participants and more households in the non-participant group considered the husband as the authority figure. Finally, the community-led action research process met sustainability features and was inclusive across social positions.
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