Key Concepts:

• Gender: The condition of being male or female and the roles assigned by society and culture.
• Gender Bias: Unequal treatment or favoritism between males and females due to prejudice.
• Gender Equality: Fair treatment of males and females.

Benefits of Gender Equality in Agricultural Technology:

• Reduction of rural poverty
• Improved food security
• Better health and nutrition
• Sustainable management of natural resources

Examples of Gender Bias in Agricultural Technology:

• Lack of female-friendly farm tools.
• Tools often designed for men, being too heavy for women to operate.
• Women use simple hand tools, while men operate complex machinery.
• Heavy equipment for large-scale farming is usually operated by men.
• Women have limited access to finance, making it difficult for them to acquire agricultural resources.
• Seminars and training on agricultural technology are often inaccessible to women due to distance and home responsibilities.
• Male agricultural extension workers primarily interact with male farmers.

Causes of Gender Bias in Agricultural Technology:

• Cultural beliefs and gender role socialization
• Internal belief systems of farmers
• Lack of early exposure to technology for females
• Low confidence among women in using agricultural tools
• Low education and literacy levels among women
• Limited access to technological information
• Limited access to capital
• Gender stereotypes and expectations

Effects of Gender Bias in Agricultural Technology:

• Limits women’s full capabilities
• Lower contribution to agricultural production from women
• Reduced agricultural productivity
• Lower farm income and increased poverty
• Food insecurity and slow agricultural development

Ways to Address Gender Bias in Agricultural Technology:

• Provide opportunities for women to build self-confidence and prove their capabilities.
• Challenge and discredit gender stereotypes.
• Promote equal education and skills development.
• Reduce the work burden on women in agriculture.
• Improve women’s access to financial resources and farm capital.
• Empower women in the use of agricultural technology.
• Develop media showcasing successful women farmers as role models.
• Review policies on land and property ownership to favor gender equality.