Content
About this brief
No cash, no food. Gendered reorganization of livelihoods and food security in Cambodia
Brief about:
Journal Article (2021)
Written by:
Other researchers:
This research project examines the impact of agricultural commercialization on the right to food and gender equality in Cambodia.
Large-scale acquisition means that it is harder for small-hold farmers to access land and natural resources in those areas; they lose both their own land and access to natural resources such as forests, water and grazing grounds. As a result farmers turn to export-orientated cash crops to earn an income.
Key findings
- The more families become dependent on wage labour the less food they cultivate.
- Women are more likely to spend their wages on food for the household, which contributes positively to food diversity.What it means
Yet, as they are increasingly involved in off-farm wage work, they have less time to spend on cooking which is detrimental to household dietary diversity.
- Women who have less money to spend on food, have to make cutbacks, often the most expensive items, such as meat and fish are kept out of the diet.
Proposed action
- The discourse surrounding large-scale land acquisition and promoting commercial agriculture needs to change
Although land acquisitions and commercial agriculture do create some jobs, they do rarely benefit local populations. Consequently they lead to impoverishment of small-holder farmers, food shortages/hunger and eventually outmigration from rural areas to the cities. Large-scale commercial agriculture should not be portrayed as a win-win situation.
- Creating jobs for women is often presented as a solution to eradicate poverty
But as long as women bear the lion’s share of reproductive and care work, when entering the labour market they will be exposed to double burdens. Policies to reconcile family-work balance have to accompany jobs for women. This can be done through the creation of childcare opportunities. Such options exist in urban areas, but are greatly absent in rural areas.
- Those involved in policy making and legislation need to consider the protection, fulfilment and respect of the right to food
Legal illiteracy in the field of right to food and gender equality needs to be overcome.
- In rural areas, women often create micro-businesses as it allows them to engage in economic activities while being in close vicinity of the home
However, they are often small scale and more research needs to be done to understand how women can further commercialise their products.
- The Cambodian government should be held accountable to the international conventions that it has signed, which includes the right to food and gender equality
International conventions are an excellent tool of leverage to initiate change.
- In rural areas, women often create micro-businesses as it allows them to engage in economic activities while being in close vicinity of the home
However, they are often small scale and more research needs to be done to understand how women can further commercialise these products.
Comments
You must log in to ask a question
Acknowledgements
Thank you to iDE Global
These insights were made available thanks to the support of iDE Global, who are committed to the dissemination of knowledge for all.
Special thanks to Arianne Zajac for preparation assistance
We would like to extend a special thank you to Arianne Zajac, for their invaluable contribution in assisting the preparation of this research summary.
Are you a researcher looking to make a real-world impact? Join Acume and transform your research into a practical summary.
Already have an account? Log in
Discover more
No cash, no food. Gendered reorganization of livelihoods and food security in Cambodia
Cite this brief: Reysoo, Fenneke. 'No cash, no food. Gendered reorganization of livelihoods and food security in Cambodia'. Acume. https://www.acume.org/r/no-cash-no-food-gendered-reorganization-of-livelihoods-and-food-security-in-cambodia/
Brief created by: Dr Fenneke Reysoo | Year brief made: 2022
Original research:
- C. G., Reysoo, F., & et al., ‘No cash, no food. Gendered reorganization of livelihoods and food security in Cambodia’ 48(7) (pp. 1485–1506) https://doi.org/10.1080/03066150.2021.1960826. – https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03066150.2021.1960826
Research brief:
This research project examines the impact of agricultural commercialization on the right to food and gender equality in Cambodia.
Large-scale acquisition means that it is harder for small-hold farmers to access land and natural resources in those areas; they lose both their own land and access to natural resources such as forests, water and grazing grounds. As a result farmers turn to export-orientated cash crops to earn an income.
Findings:
The more families become dependent on wage labour the less food they cultivate.
Women are more likely to spend their wages on food for the household, which contributes positively to food diversity.
Yet, as they are increasingly involved in off-farm wage work, they have less time to spend on cooking which is detrimental to household dietary diversity.
Women who have less money to spend on food, have to make cutbacks, often the most expensive items, such as meat and fish are kept out of the diet.
Advice:
The discourse surrounding large-scale land acquisition and promoting commercial agriculture needs to change
- Although land acquisitions and commercial agriculture do create some jobs, they do rarely benefit local populations. Consequently they lead to impoverishment of small-holder farmers, food shortages/hunger and eventually outmigration from rural areas to the cities. Large-scale commercial agriculture should not be portrayed as a win-win situation.
Creating jobs for women is often presented as a solution to eradicate poverty
- But as long as women bear the lion’s share of reproductive and care work, when entering the labour market they will be exposed to double burdens. Policies to reconcile family-work balance have to accompany jobs for women. This can be done through the creation of childcare opportunities. Such options exist in urban areas, but are greatly absent in rural areas.
Those involved in policy making and legislation need to consider the protection, fulfilment and respect of the right to food
- Legal illiteracy in the field of right to food and gender equality needs to be overcome.
In rural areas, women often create micro-businesses as it allows them to engage in economic activities while being in close vicinity of the home
- However, they are often small scale and more research needs to be done to understand how women can further commercialise their products.
The Cambodian government should be held accountable to the international conventions that it has signed, which includes the right to food and gender equality
- International conventions are an excellent tool of leverage to initiate change.
In rural areas, women often create micro-businesses as it allows them to engage in economic activities while being in close vicinity of the home
- However, they are often small scale and more research needs to be done to understand how women can further commercialise these products.