A Long Way toward Climate Smart Agriculture: The Importance of Addressing Gender Inequity in the Agricultural Sector of Guatemala

Abstract

In the context of climate change’s detrimental effects on agricultural production and food security, climate-smart agriculture (CSA) strategies constitute a promising approach to reduce vulnerability and boost adaptation capacity and resilience within farmers. However, CSA strategies should address gender dynamics to reach their full potential. This study analyzed the barriers and opportunities for the implementation of gender-sensitive CSA strategies in rural Guatemala, a low-latitude country with a high gender gap index, through the perceptions of agricultural extensionists. For this purpose, we conducted an online survey among Guatemalan agricultural extensionists who attended a series of Climate Services for Agriculture workshops between May and July 2021 and analyzed the results using a qualitative approach. Results suggest that women in rural Guatemala are frequently excluded from climate information access, agricultural training, and decision-making spaces in which agricultural resource management strategies are defined. We argue that this exclusion represents a barrier to the improvement in adaptation capacity and resilience and that gender inequity should be addressed to implement successful gender-sensitive CSA approaches. Generating gender-sensitive indicators and training extensionists against gender bias could be a starting point, but further research is necessary to understand gender dynamics in rural Guatemala.

Central Asia: Exploring Insights on Gender Considerations in Climate Change

“…These representation patterns are similar to those in other world regions [134][135][136]. The exclusion of women from decision-making processes is often attributed to societal stereotypes about the lower significance of their roles compared to men, patriarchal traditions, institutional barriers, and disproportional access to quality education, training, and resources [137,138]. On the other hand, numerous studies demonstrate the effectiveness of more balanced gender representation in leadership and management.…”

First experiences with participatory climate services for farmers in Central America: A case study in Honduras

“…Scaling up the PICSA approach by adapting it to local and knowledge contexts requires time and financial investment for the capacity development of staff in institutions but can then fit within the operations of existing structures. A relevant result was the inclusion of the PICSA approach within the Climate Resilience Plan of the national bean chain in Honduras (Obando et al, 2021) and the exploration of gender dynamics in the rural sector of Guatemala (Mosso et al, 2022). Furthermore, the PICSA implementation herein described led to spillover effects whereby farmers shared their ideas more broadly with their community and field workers.…”

Implications of a Climate-Smart Approach to Food and Income Security for Urban Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

“…Collective action and organisational membership improve access to, for example, knowledge sharing, extension and advisory services, sharing of resources, and financial support in urban areas to marginalised groups like women and youth, which could be symbolic of enhancing food security under increasing climate change farming challenges. Mosso et al [106] caution that, in as much as CSA constitutes a hopeful approach to reducing vulnerability, boosting adaptation capacity, and improving climate change resilience, addressing social aspects such as gender and youth dynamics is critical to reaching full CSA potential and mitigating the detrimental effects of climate change on agricultural production and food security. Again, policy advocacy, for example, for urban dairy farming, is critical to quality, food availability, and avenues for income generation.…”