Assessment of Rural Women’s Agricultural Livelihood Activities in Lala, Lanao del Norte: Basis for Designing a Curriculum Integrating Gender and Development in MSU-IIT IRDA

Abstract

Rural men and women, particularly in low-income households, participate in various activities to enhance their living standards by optimizing income-generating activities, reducing susceptibility and risk, and fulfilling other household goals. As a result, people rely on their livelihoods to support themselves. Therefore, the development of agriculture is greatly influenced and largely dependent on rural women. This study aimed to assess the rural women’s agricultural livelihood activities in Lala, Lanao del Norte. The method used in this study is quantitative and qualitative for evaluating rural women’s agricultural livelihood activities. Since it is a pandemic, three (3) enumerators from Lala, Lanao del Norte,
gathered data using ten open-ended questions. The research team used purposive random sampling in choosing the one hundred fifty-one (151) participants. Findings reveal that there must have a “shift in response to new opportunities as well as over the life cycle of men and women. Women farmers in the municipality of Lala, Lanao del Norte’s rural areas do not have the same access to agricultural livelihood activities as males. Stereotypes among men farmers dominate agricultural livelihood activities. According to research, the agricultural sectors must develop strategies for agricultural extension and women’s empowerment. Findings advocate that the MSU-IIT IRDA Curriculum may also have vocational skills development training and short-term courses on agricultural education while including gender and development principles.