Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
depend on the active involvement of women groups. The degradation of land
through deforestation is a common problem affecting all, but has a more devastat-
ing effect on women.
The use of women as agrobiodiversity conservators is based on the belief that
women are the main users of natural resources. Indeed, women have been shown
to be the principal gatherers and users of forests and common land resources
(Falconner, 1992). Products gathered are either used for subsistence or are
processed into marketable commodities.
Trees and forests in Jachie are a source of a variety of products that are well
integrated in the livelihoods of the women. In addition to farming, women keep
small populations of livestock such as local fowls, ducks, goats, and sheep. They
occasionally collect medicinal plants for trade. These biological items formed the
basis for the planning and implementation of agrobiodiversity conservation in
the village.
Jachie has a social situation which is typical of villages close to cities. Most
men in this village have migrated to the nearby city of Kumasi to earn a living.
This has created a new spatial division of labour and the formation of split
households. Women farmers in this village now serve as caretakers of the home
and natural environment. The women of Jachie, as is the case in other areas,
make important contributions to agricultural production (Kalinda, Filson, and
Shute, 2000). They have expanded upon traditional gender-based systems of
managing their farms and landscapes. They have incorporated new forms of
labour and responsibilities into their own activities. These roles were formerly
part of the men's domain. This has made them leaders in the maintenance of
agrodiversity. Faced with the task of ensuring the sustainability of their environ-
mental resources, the women readily adopted the ideas presented by PLEC.
Genesis of the women farmers' group at Jachie
The PLEC project placed a lot of emphasis on women playing key roles in plan-
ning and implementing land-based activities. During the initial stages of PLEC,
research scientists organized several visits to the village. They held consultations
with the existing traditional and political groups, chiefs, elders, assemblymen, and
village development committee members. This facilitated the establishment of an
excellent working relationship between the village community and the scientists.
A lot of progress was achieved through community forums, awareness creation,
and community mobilization. In order to understand local village dynamics and
specific issues relating to women, several hours were spent with the women in
their homes, farms, and at social events such as funerals and weddings.
A situational analysis facilitated the identification of people who were ready
to share knowledge. This was important because before the inception of PLEC
