Gender analysis and empowerment of women and men in Cassava (Manihot esculenta) production in Kerala

Women’s participation is vitally important in agriculture so also in cultivation of tuber crops. In Kerala, cassava is cultivated mostly in homestead farming with active participation of the women. Gender analysis was conducted to map the profile characteristics and empowerment of men and women. Hundred respondents doing cassava cultivation were selected from Thiruvananthapuram and Pathanamthitta districts of Kerala. Majority (61.53%) of the women and men (68.57%) had medium level of participation in cassava cultivation. The overall empowerment index of men (0.86) was more than women (0.78). Employment generation and economic benefits in cassava cultivation for men and women were also assessed.