Embedding gender factor in energy input–output analysis of paddy production systems in Mazandaran Province, Iran

Abstract

This study explores gender in the energy inputoutput analysis by comparing the energy indicators in paddy production in female-headed farms and male-headed farms during years of 2014-2015 in Mazandaran Province. Questionnaires were used to collect data from 120 paddy farmers (60 males and 60 females). Energy indicators were calculated for female-and male-headed farms. Results revealed noticeable variations in some important energy indicators between female-and male-headed farms. A significant difference was observed in terms of total energy input. The majority of energy input consumption for both female-and male-headed farms was devoted to diesel fuel, fertilizers, especially nitrogen fertilizers, and machinery. Results indicated that there was no significant difference between male-headed and female-headed farms in terms of net energy and specific energy, but energy use efficiency and energy productivity were significantly higher for female-headed farms. Then, it can be argued that gender factor had a significant impact on amount of direct, indirect, and renewable energy inputs. Based on our findings, female-headed rice systems were more efficient, where fossil-based inputs were used more environment friendly than male-headed farms. Finally, targeted ''soft'' policies like gender-sensitive capacity-developing program were proposed.

Comparative assessment of on-farm greenhouse gases emission from male-headed and female-headed rice farms in Babol county (Mazandaran province, Iran)

“…This higher carbon input in male-headed farms was strongly related to the increased use of energy inputs (machinery, fossil fuels, fertilizers, and biocides) by male rice farmers (Table 5). As noted earlier, females often use lower amounts of energy inputs in their farms due to their restricted access to agricultural productive resources (Bisheh et al, 2017;Peterman et al, 2014). The total carbon output, however, was not considerably different between femaleheaded farms (3094.77 kg.C.equivalent.ha -1 ) and male-headed farms (3223.42 kg.C.equivalent.ha -1 ; t = 0.69; p < 0.49) (Table 6).…”

“…Comparative assessment of on-farm greenhouse gases... (Lal, 2004). The reason for the difference in the consumption of inputs in female-and maleheaded farms could be related to the fact that women have limited access to inputs and production factors (Bisheh et al, 2017;Peterman et al, 2014) as they experience more social and economic limitation than men (FAO, 2010).…”

“…Apart from the restricted access of females to agricultural inputs, their ecological-friendly attitude towards farming management should not be overlooked (Bisheh et al, 2017). They are more concerned about the health of the environment and their families and the risks associated with biocides and are more aware that men are alternative approaches to pest control, such as the use of advantageous insects (Birah et al, 2016;Hülsbergen et al, 2001).…”

“…Studies have reported a low level of energy use efficiency in Iranian crop production systems (Kazemi et al, 2015;Mohammadi et al, 2008;Banaeian and Zangeneh, 2011). Bisheh et al (2017) revealed that regarding the high consumption of carbonbased inputs, the energy use efficiency was not in an acceptable condition in both female-(1.48) and male-headed plots (1.30). Banaeian and Zangeneh (2011)…”

Drought assessment in paddy rice fields using remote sensing technology towards achieving food security and SDG2

“…The coastal areas of the Caspian Sea in the northern part of Iran (including Mazandaran, Guilan and Golestan provinces) meet a huge share of the rice demand of this country. Therefore, this region has been the case of several studies regarding rice production, such as studying gender factors in rice production systems (Valiollahi Bisheh et al, 2017), assessing the land suitability and sustainability of rice production (Amini et al, 2020a) and studying the effect of fertilizers and inoculum density on rice diseases (Khoshkdaman et al, 2021).…”