Voices from the Fields: Gender Dynamics in Rural Agriculture in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

This study investigates gender dynamics in rural agriculture in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan, focusing on the division of labour, intra-household decision-making, resource access, and women lived experiences. Using a qualitative exploratory design, data were collected from 30 in-depth interviews, six gender-segregated focus group discussions, and field observations across diverse smallholder farming households. Thematic analysis revealed five key themes: gendered division of labour, limited access to productive resources and services, male-dominated decision-making and income control, structural constraints including unpaid care work and mobility restrictions, and women’s coping strategies and subtle forms of agency. Findings indicate that women perform intensive and largely undervalued agricultural work, have restricted access to land, credit, and extension services, and possess minimal decision-making power, yet exercise resilience through informal networks and intra-household negotiation. The study underscores the need for gender-responsive policies that recognize women as central agricultural actors, enhance equitable resource access, and support their decision-making and leadership in rural agrarian systems.