Women, Environment, and Sustainable Development

A Study of Women among Sumi Community of Nagaland - Page 1                 

By Ms. KITOHOLI ZHIMO, 

Junior Research Fellow,  Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi, India

Journal Cover Page

Abstract:

Women have been participatory stalwart of conservation for centuries without much recognition and appreciation in natural resources and environmental management. They are known to exist in close proximity with nature and possess inherent indigenous knowledge about the earth systems thereby contributing to the sustainable management of the resources, yet they continue to suffer the brunt of environment degradation at the expense of Gender disparity. Had they been given equal opportunity and control over the natural resources the world would have achieve greater if not, complete sustainable development.

In this milieu, the present work seeks to explore the role and contribution of women in sustainable development within the patriarchal framework. Are women the key to Sustainable Development? What are the contributions of women in the environmental management? What are those Gender constraints that hamper the process of Sustainable Development? Or is Gender parity the “missing link” of Sustainable Development? An attempt is therefore made in the present work to unearth these queries based on the qualitative research study conducted among women engaged in Organic farming, Vermiculture/Vermicompost, and Indigenous based Knowledge Systems in Agriculture.

Key words: Sustainable Development, Gender Disparity, Environment, Organic Farming, Indigenous Knowledge

Women, Environment, and Sustainable Development

 A Study of Women among Sumi Community of Nagaland - Page 2

Men usually work outside the village in some private sector, Government sector, or self employed like carpentry, running rice mill, shops, hunting, daily wage laborers, and private driver, etc therefore escapes the direct brunt of environmental crisis.

In those household where the only income source is agriculture based, men does their part of clearing the forests, preparing the soil for sowing, constructing the rest house, lending a hand in harvesting but the heart and bones of the work ultimately becomes the sole duty of women who does the occasional clearing of weeds, nurturing of the food crops, protecting the crops against rodents, pests and birds, seeds preservation for the next season, checking the water canal etc.

Women, Environment, and Sustainable Development

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Application  of  women’s  indigenous  knowledge  in Agricultural Practices

In their co-existence with the natural environment, women are believed  to  develop  inherent knowledge  of  the  earth  systems which  further  assist  them  in  fulfilling  their  role  as  nurturer
and conservationist. Modern Organic farming is not entirely a new  agricultural  technique  in  itself  but  it  is  incorporation  of  local indigenous knowledge contributed largely by women who acts as the storehouse of intense and varied information of the natural resources.

Their traditional knowledge of the forest not only ensures their subsistence needs but many existing studies/ researches  have  shown  that  women’s  inherent  knowledge constitutes  a  fundamental contribution  to  sustainable development  in  the  community,  (Filomina  Chioma  Steady; 1998).

In  the  present  work,  an  attempt  is  made  to  explore application of indigenous knowledge of women which aimed to enhance sustainable and judicious management of the natural resources.

Women, Environment, and Sustainable Development

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Women and the New Ecological Paradigm in Agriculture

As  discussed  earlier  in  the  introductory  part  of  the  present work,  traditional  agriculture  also called  jhum  or  shifting  also called  slash  and  burn  cultivation  resulted  in  rampant exploitation of  the  forest  land  leading  to  land  degradation, deforestation,  soil  erosion,  pollution  of  water, health complications with increased use of artificial fertilizers.

In the contemporary  times,  modern amenities  have  reached  the remote  corner  of  the  village betraying  its  rural  location  and economy.  Population  pressures,  food  demand  coupled  with adaptation  to  advanced  lifestyles and modern forces,  the  local poor  no  longer  remain  self-sufficient  with  hand  to  mouth existence.

Women, Environment, and Sustainable Development

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Table 2. Significance of the New Ecological Paradigm

Women, Environment, and Sustainable Development

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Discussion

Women  all  over  the  world  have  embraced  the  environmental problems  and  are  among  the  most  ardent  activists  for protecting the earth systems and the lives of the inhabitants in it (Filomina Chioma Steady, 1998).

From Greenbelt movement of Kenya (women initiate and promote afforestation) to Chipko movement of India (women protested against illegal cutting of trees)  to  Pacific  Region  (where  women  protested  against nuclear  testing)  to  Philippine  movement  (Filipino  women halting  the  building  of  environmentally  threatening  dam)  to South  America  (Guyanese  women  initiating  a  biogas  program to save fuel) etc. all these represents the contribution of women in the environmental fronts dedicated to the continuation of life on  earth.

Women, Environment, and Sustainable Development

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About the Author:

Ms. Kitoholi Zhimo is a Junior Research Fellow and is currnently about to finish her M.Phil. (Department of Anthropology) under University of Delhi, India.

This is a peer reviewed  research paper article written by her and published on May 2014. The published article can be found at http://euacademic.org/PastIssueList.aspx?artid=15

            Certificate of Publication: