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A review of the effects of migration on the feminization of agrarian dryland economies

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  • Baada, Jemima Nomunume
  • Najjar, Dina

Abstract

Intensifying outmigration in dryland areas affects women's roles in agriculture and related activities, with broader implications for productivity and gender equity. Using a systematic review of literature, we examine the effects of migration on the “feminization of agriculture” in dryland areas. The findings reveal that women are performing more farm labor in agrarian societies due to the increasing outmigration of men. In addition, female agricultural labor is becoming more visible because of growing research on the feminization of agricultural labor in dry areas. The findings also show that migration-related agricultural feminization in drylands is influenced by gendered, generational, socioeconomic, and sociocultural factors, as well as economic and social remittances – with ongoing negotiations of these processes happening at different levels. Despite the tensions and (re)negotiations that accompany these changes, particularly regarding return migration, social and economic policy interventions could leverage the increasing participation of women in dryland agriculture to improve women's livelihoods.

Suggested Citation

  • Baada, Jemima Nomunume & Najjar, Dina, . "A review of the effects of migration on the feminization of agrarian dryland economies," Journal of Gender, Agriculture and Food Security (Agri-Gender), Africa Centre for Gender, Social Research and Impact Assessment, vol. 5(2).
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:afgend:361308
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.361308
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hein de Haas & Aleida van Rooij, 2010. "Migration as Emancipation? The Impact of Internal and International Migration on the Position of Women Left Behind in Rural Morocco," Oxford Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 38(1), pages 43-62.
    2. Malika Abdelali‐Martini & Jennie Dey de Pryck, 2015. "Does the Feminisation of Agricultural Labour Empower Women? Insights from Female Labour Contractors and Workers in Northwest Syria," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(7), pages 898-916, October.
    3. Arun Khatri-Chhetri & Punya Prasad Regmi & Nitya Chanana & Pramod K. Aggarwal, 2020. "Potential of climate-smart agriculture in reducing women farmers’ drudgery in high climatic risk areas," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 158(1), pages 29-42, January.
    4. Binzel, Christine & Assaad, Ragui, 2011. "Egyptian men working abroad: Labour supply responses by the women left behind," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 18(S1), pages 98-114.
    5. Radel, Claudia & Schmook, Birgit & Carte, Lindsey & Mardero, Sofia, 2018. "Toward a Political Ecology of Migration: Land, Labor Migration, and Climate Change in Northwestern Nicaragua," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 263-273.
    6. Baruah, Bipasha, 2007. "Gendered Realities: Exploring Property Ownership and Tenancy Relationships in Urban India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 35(12), pages 2096-2109, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Cathy Rozel Farnworth & Els Lecoutere & Alessandra Galiè & Bjorn Van Campenhout & Marlène Elias & Markus Ihalainen & Lara Roeven & Preeti Bharati & Ana Maria Paez Valencia & Mary Crossland & Barbara, 2023. "Methodologies for Researching Feminization of Agriculture: What Do They Tell Us?," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 23(3), pages 294-316, July.
    2. Nanda, Mamata & Ghosh, Souvik, 2025. "How does male out-migration impact the lives of left-behind women? Trade-off between feminization of agriculture and empowerment of farm women," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).

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