This bachelor thesis is based on a field study performed in the rural village Maciene in Mozambique. The village is situated in the Gaza province, in the southern part of the country. Most of the people in the village are peasant farmers, but they also live from cattle breeding and small-scale fishing. The village is situated in the Lebombo diocese within the Anglican Church. The Swedish church diocese in Västerås and the Swedish Mission Council are since many years supporting a development project in the village that is called The Maciene Vision. Since 2002 has Mälardalen University been part of the project, and students at the programme Economy for sustainable development and the Public health programme have been given the opportunity to perform field studies in Maciene.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 Background
1.2 Problem area and problem definition
1.3 Purpose
1.4 Delimitation
1.5 Target group
1.6 Definitions and abbreviations
1.7 Disposition
2. Scientific and theoretic approach
2.1 Hermeneutic
2.2 Ecological Economics and institutional theory
2.3 Feminist theory
3. Scientific method
3.1 Realisation
3.2.1 Literature review
3.2.2 Choice of respondents
3.2.3 Interview performance
3.2.4 Participation observation
3.2.5 Analyze method
3.2. Ethical considerations
3.3 Critical reflections on method and sources
4. Women’s situation in Mozambique
4.1 An introduction to Mozambique
4.1.1 A developing country with a colonial history
4.2 Women’s situation
4.2.1 The family situation of women
4.2.2 Division of labour between women and men
4.2.3 Women’s access to economic resources
4.2.4 Women’s access to land
4.3 Possibilities to develop women’s situation
4.3.1 Women and micro-credits
5. The rural village Maciene
5.1 An introduction to the village
5.1.1 The development work
5.1.2 Previous studies about women in Maciene
5.2 Local leaders’ view on women’s situation
5.2.1 Division of labour between women and men
5.2.2 Women’s access to economic resources
5.2.3 Women’s access to land
5.3 Local leaders view on possibilities
5.3.1 Women and micro-credits
6. The farmers in Maciene
6.1 Female and male farmer’s view
6.1.1 Division of labour between women and men
6.1.2 Women’s access to economic resources
6.1.3 Women’s access to land
6.2 Female farmer’s view on possibilities
7. Analysis
7.1 Female farmer’s situation in Maciene
7.1.1 Division of labour between women and men
7.1.2 Female farmer’s access to economic resources
7.1.3 Female farmer’s access to land
7.2 Developing female farmer’s situation in Maciene
7.2.1 Local leaders’ view on female farmer’s situation
7.2.2 Possibilities to develop the division of labour
7.2.3 Possibilities to develop female farmer’s to access economic resources
7.2.4 Possibilities to develop female farmer’s access to land
8. Conclusions
8.1 Final words
8.1.1 Future research
Objectives & Core Topics
The purpose of this thesis is to examine the situation of female farmers in the rural village of Maciene, Mozambique, focusing on the division of labor in agriculture and the household, access to economic resources, and land ownership. The research explores potential development paths and investigates whether micro-credit initiatives could effectively improve their living conditions.
- Gender roles and division of labor in rural agriculture and household settings.
- Economic empowerment and access to resources for female farmers.
- Customary vs. legal land tenure systems and their practical implications for women.
- Impact of micro-credit programs on rural poverty reduction and family welfare.
- Institutional and cultural barriers to achieving gender equality in rural Mozambique.
Excerpt from the Book
1. Introduction
African women are invisible producers. The continents basic survival depends on them. The women are the ones that grow, process, transport and market practically all of Africa’s food. They provide 90 percent of the water, wood and fuel, and they spend many hours fetching these resources. Besides, they manage the household and bring up the children. The women own only one percent of the land and receive less than seven percent of farm extension services. They are undernourished, illiterate and they lack influence in the decisions affecting their lives.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the research background, the problem definition regarding women in agriculture, the study purpose, and target audience.
2. Scientific and theoretic approach: Discusses the hermeneutic research paradigm and provides the theoretical foundation including ecological economics, institutional theory, and feminist theory.
3. Scientific method: Details the qualitative field study approach, including literature review, respondent selection, interview techniques, participant observation, and ethical considerations.
4. Women’s situation in Mozambique: Provides contextual background on the nation, its colonial history, and the socio-economic status of women regarding labor, economic resources, and land rights.
5. The rural village Maciene: Focuses on the local village context, development projects, and the perspectives of local leaders concerning women’s situation and micro-credit.
6. The farmers in Maciene: Presents the empirical findings based on interviews with 14 female and 10 male farmers regarding their daily lives and access to resources.
7. Analysis: Connects the empirical findings with the theoretical framework, analyzing the female farmer’s situation and potential development interventions.
8. Conclusions: Synthesizes the findings and provides concluding remarks on the role of education and development projects in improving the situation for female farmers.
Keywords
Mozambique, Maciene, female farmers, rural agriculture, division of labor, gender roles, micro-credits, land ownership, ecological economics, feminist theory, institutional theory, rural development, poverty, household management, gender equality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this thesis?
The thesis investigates the living and working conditions of female farmers in the rural Mozambican village of Maciene, specifically examining their role in agriculture and the household.
What are the primary areas of investigation?
The study focuses on three main areas: the division of labor between men and women, the female farmer’s access to economic resources, and the female farmer’s access to land.
What is the research goal?
The goal is to understand the current situation of these women, identify obstacles they face, and explore how development projects, particularly micro-credits, might improve their situation.
Which methodology was employed?
The authors utilized a qualitative approach, including semi-structured interviews with organizations, village leaders, and farmers, complemented by participant observation and literature studies.
What does the main body address?
The main body covers the theoretical foundations, the national context of Mozambique, a detailed study of the village of Maciene, and an analysis of the farmers' perspectives on their situation.
How is the thesis characterized by its keywords?
The work is defined by the intersection of gender studies, ecological economics, and rural development in the specific geographic and cultural context of Mozambique.
How do traditional customs impact women's land ownership in Maciene?
Traditions often dictate that land is transmitted via the male line, and although women have legal rights to own land, cultural barriers and lack of official titles frequently hinder their autonomy in practice.
How does the author view the role of micro-credits?
Micro-credits are seen as a positive tool for empowerment, particularly because women tend to invest earnings back into family health and education, though successful implementation requires careful education and infrastructure support.
- Quote paper
- Martin Schwartz (Author), Lena Widefjäll (Author), 2006, Women and Agriculture - A case study of a rural village in Mozambique, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/71218
