Daily Times (Pakistan) published an article on women in agriculture. There have been fiery waves of feminism in Pakistan manifested by the multiple Aurat marches and the trending hashtags on social media. Why then is it that within the agricultural sector, the backbone of our country, we are witnessing what is perhaps one of the worst scenarios of gender disparity in the world? Women are propelled into a triple burden effect where they are compelled to work, alongside catering to the household, and emotional requirements of the family. However, the detrimental repercussions do not end there. Failing to fulfill women’s rights in the agro-based fields reduces food security alongside land productivity, damaging the nation as a whole. IFPRI’s research found that these inequalities are one of the largest factors kindling a slowing economy alongside hindering progress towards fulfilling United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2 (UN SDG 2), “end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture” by 2030.
