Women in agriculture and the incorporation of gender issues in IPB's [Institut Pertanian Bogor] curricular program

Abstract

The heavy involvement of rural women in agricultural and non-agricultural activities are well documented. These activities include growing, storing, transporting, delivering, preparing, consuming food, fishing, animal husbandry, plantation, home industry, trade, and others. Women are responsible for most household jobs and are involved in many social activities as well. In addition to their work load, women still face the problems of low education level, low paid work, and are vulnerable to malnutrition. Understanding women's activities and problems are important steps in developing policies and programs to increase women's quality of life, enhance gender awareness, and achieve equal partnership between men and women. IPB can play a major role to address these gender issues by incorporating them into the university's curricular programs. Incorporation can be made through the existing courses or as new topics in the course syllabus. These issues should also be included in the student's extra curricular programs.