Mainstreaming local health through herbal gardens in India: a tool to enhance women active agency and primary health care?

Abstract

In the last few years, an increasing attention has been given to home herbal gardens, especially due to a revived interest in food security and sustainable development. The uses of home herbal gardens and their role in the livelihoods of rural poor uses have been analyzed in the literature. Despite this, few studies focus on the role of home gardens for primary health care and their relevance for the household and women's health. In addition, any analysis has been carried out on the socioeconomic values of home herbal gardens in respect of the medicinal plants. This article wants to bridge this gap by analyzing the role of herbal gardens in the local livelihoods in rural India (Tamil Nadu state). The article also highlights their impact in terms of health for the local communities, with a special focus on poor rural women. Final conclusions on the relevance of home herbal gardens for primary health care and socioeconomic development of lower castes in India are drawn.

Women and men in tropical dry forests: a preliminary review

“…On the positive side, see, for instance, the work of Djoudi and Brockhaus (2011) or Boyd (2009) on gender and climate change; Or on landscapes, Colfer et al (2014). Torri (2012) notes the dismal history of agronomic inattention to the typically female-dominated home gardens (also noted by Lopez-Alzina 2007, for Mexico, and repeatedly in the collection by Howard 2003, which included both humid and dry forest areas). But there has been an efflorescence of home herbal gardens in India established mostly by women's self-help groups (190 000 gardens in three states, Tamil Nadu, Karnatak and Kerala).…”

The gender box : A framework for analysing gender roles in forest management

“…Torri (2010) reports the experience of Indian women, who, as part of their involvement in community-based conservation initiatives, were able to obtain training and other educational opportunities that allowed them to improve living conditions (as well as contributing to the conservation concerns). In another report, Torri (2012) found that Indian women, particularly those from 'scheduled castes' found the creation of home gardens and the related training they received increased their social status at home and in their communities.…”

“…Women's health care responsibilities are another frequent 'excuse' for grouping; lower-caste women in India come together to better manage herbal gardens (Torri 2012): 'Over the last 15 years, more than 190 000 home herbal gardens have been established by the community-based organisations, which are mainly women's self-help groups in more than 6000 villages and hamlets across the states of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu'.…”

“…45 She particularly notes the links between maintenance of cuisine and desired 'cultural control', the exercise of decision making about new cultural elements that people can reject, adopt or adapt (p. 63). Torri (2012) expresses similar fears about medicinal plant knowledge in Tamil Nadu, India, where she worked with local women to reinforce such indigenous knowledge. Lyon and Hardesty (2012) describe how young Antanosy women (SE Madagascar) begin childbearing at around 14 years of age.…”

“…There's little doubt that bargaining can play a significant role-moderated or exacerbated by cultural norms-in intra-household dynamics, with implications for forest management. Increased power for women has been found to occur: • When external involvements result in enhanced self confidence: Amazonian women involved in a conservation project (Meola 2012); lowercaste women who received health-related training in Rajasthan, India (Torri 2012 (Quisumbing et al 2004, Mackenzie 2005.…”