Impacts of the gender strategy in the agricultural sector, through the Local Agricultural Innovation Project (PIAL)

Abstract

Undoubtedly, women and men are important pillars in development processes; however, participating in conditions of equality requires having the same level of access to opportunities, responsibilities and rights. The Local Agricultural Innovation Project (PIAL according its acronym in Spanish), in its third phase, works in 10 provinces and 45 municipalities in Cuba. The priority intentions are to improve the food security and sovereignty of producer families involved, to increase the efficiency of the integrated production systems, to improve the life quality with gender equity and to enhance female leadership, creating new spaces for interaction between different actors. Hence, the objective of this paper is to show the work of PIAL´s gender axis and its social impacts, in the period from September, 2013 to October, 2015, presenting its main results in the economic, productive, sociocultural, management of the female knowledge, participation and leadership areas. The main results are at generating new jobs aimed: In 2014, 5337 jobs were generated, benefiting 739 women and in 2015, 24 762 jobs were generated, benefiting 2393 women; which represents 31 % of the total. The income was around 500.00 CUP as a monthly average. Substantial changes are observed in the recovery of agrarian culture at the level of families and with children and young people; 117100 women were trained in topics related to their interests; what represents 30 % of the total; greater autonomy, empowerment and leadership of women in the communities is achieved.