Gender Issues Associated with Labor Migration and Dependence on Off-Farm Income in Rural Bolivia

Abstract

Rural off-farm income is relied upon by most Bolivian farm families: 67% of large land owners and 95% of small land owners. The Bolivian pattern is a result of low producer prices redistribution to small land owners of inhospitable land and consolidation of land among large land owners. The consequence for women is the loss and scarcity of male farm labor during peak periods. Men have an advantage in off-farm labor due to higher wages. The cycle is greater labor investment but reduced return. Womens decision making that involves cutting corners has resulted in land degradation. The social participation and agricultural training of women is limited. Development efforts are counterproductive for women when training materials are produced in Spanish instead of Quechua. The study area was the central and southern Bolivian valley region of Campero and Mizque provinces Cochabamba department which was economically stagnant and land degradation and poverty were interrelated. Field research was conducted in 1990-91 through structured interviews of 80 women from 4 distinct ecological zones and a socioeconomic study of 360 families on the organization of rural production. A description of the department geographically and demographically was provided. Rural development was characterized as not understanding the constraints on women for involvement in development activities and the lack of impact on womens education and training. Three issues were identified and discussed as very important to an understanding of gender and the relationship to off-farm income and land degradation: poverty productive tasks land tenure and female migration. Where nongovernmental organizations and state agencies can help women is in helping women free up time training women in disease prevention in plants and animals and proper use and handling of pesticides and training women in basic accounting and administrative skills in marketing and strengthening access to markets. Training is needed to help women solve time shortage problems; health information and training in midwifery are also needed. Community organization needs to be strengthened so that women are leaders and gain organizational experience.