Gendered participation in plant protection practices within rice-based cropping systems of Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Gender plays a critical role in shaping participation, access to resources, and decision-making in agricultural plant protection practices. This study investigated gender-based differences in crop protection roles, training access, and knowledge dissemination among rice farmers in the rice cropping zone of Punjab. Demographic analysis revealed significant socio-economic disparities between male and female farmers. Male respondents were older, more educated, possessed larger landholdings, and had greater farming experience than female respondents (p < 0.05). Although participation in crop protection activities appeared nearly equal between genders, clear differences emerged in the nature of responsibilities performed. Men were significantly more involved in hazardous activities such as pesticide application and pesticide waste disposal, whereas women showed significantly greater participation in the use of biopesticides (p < 0.01). No significant gender difference was observed in Integrated Pest Management practices, indicating shared involvement in knowledge-based pest monitoring and decision-making. Access to agricultural training was generally low, with a pronounced gender gap; only 22.5% of women had received formal training compared to 43.1% of men. Training content also reflected gendered segmentation, with women receiving more integrated multi-topic training, while men had greater exposure to soil management. Respondents identified improved access to resources, recruitment of female extension workers, and pest identification training as the most important interventions for enhancing gender equity in plant protection. In conclusion, the study highlighted substantial gender disparities in agricultural knowledge, training access, and task allocation, emphasizing the need for gender-inclusive extension services and equitable resource distribution for sustainable crop protection systems.