Women Agricultural Workers and Nutrition in Pakistan

Abstract

Pakistan has high rates of child undernutrition (both stunting and wasting). The country’s agricultural sector is a source of livelihood for over 40 per cent of the workforce. The LANSA Evidence Review for Pakistan found that there had been steady feminisation of the agricultural workforce as men moved out of the sector and women remained. LANSA researchers resolved to examine these issues through a formative study of the impact of women’s agricultural work on their own health and the health and nutrition of their children. For agriculture to play a more positive role for nutrition in Pakistan there needs to be greater recognition of the impact of women’s agricultural work by government, communities and families.