Gender and Food Insecurity: Food Entitlement in Resource Scarce Areas in the Far-Western Region of Nepal

Abstract

In spite of being the principal producers of food, women and child girls are often suffer from malnutrition and hunger. Most of the discussions regarding their food insecurity have focused so far on the intra-household access and distribution of food. This article analyzes the broader spectrum of gender dimensions of inter and intra-household entitlement to food. This study conducted in the far-western region of Nepal, which is established as a resource poor region, shows the institutions such as patrilinearity, patriarchal inheritance law, patrilocality and early marriage, the cultural norms, discriminatory food distributional practices, caste and ethnicity still function among some categories women in terms of land ownerships, share tenancy, acquiring sufficient and nutritious food, wage and employment, and credit, resulting their entitlement failure. At a time, this article discusses how new initiatives such as market, women's self-help agencies, Government's new policy and NGOs have been playing crucial role to change in the institutions that resulted into women's capability enhancement.

The Hidden Hunger among Nepalese Non-pregnant Women Aged 15–49 Years: The Role of Individual, Household, Community-Level Factors

“…According to the human development index and human poverty index [41], the far-western region of Nepal is the most underdeveloped region of the country with low land productivity, poor access to health and education and its far distance from the centre Kathmandu [42]. The practice of gender-based food distribution discrimination, discrimination during menstruation cycle, employment constraints for women and lack of land ownership all have tremendous impact on food availability for women in this region [42,43]. Further research should be conducted to assess the differences in order to understand why non-pregnant women in some geographical regions are more prone to micronutrient deficiencies than those from other ethnic settings.…”

Communicating Agriculture and Nutrition: Opportunities for Agricultural Extension-Communication and Advisory Services in Nepal

“…Poverty prevails in rural areas where agricultural production remains under optimal levels and few income-generating opportunities exist. According to Bishokarma and Amir (2014), inadequate nutrition and sanitation practices undercut public health, and meager public investments in infrastructure, health, nutrition services, and disaster management hamper economic growth.…”

“…Poor access to highquality seeds, fertilizer, irrigation facilities, and markets makes earning a living an ardent struggle. As a result, more than half a million seek work outside the country, 95% of them male (Bishokarma & Amir, 2014). Climate change makes these already marginalized people even more vulnerable.…”

Awareness About the Health Impacts of Indoor Air Pollution on Rural Women in District Faisalabad

“…In under developed and developing countries women and children cannot avoid unnecessary exposure of biomass smoke. It is world's culture that women play primary role in cooking and distribution of food for her family (Bishokarma and Amir, 2014). Some young daughters start cooking in their early ages to help their mothers in preparing food and almost spent 3 to 7 hours with their mothers in the kitchen.…”