The importance of women to agroforestry in Borneo

In Borneo, a group of mountain people of the Dayak tribe recently moved from their old villages in the mountains to a new home by the coast. Though the Dayaks' lives have imprioved in many ways, the children are suffering from the great amount of machine-hulled rice in their new diet (machine-hulled rice is less nutricious than hand-hulled rice). One reason for this is the new availability of outside jobs; there is less time to plant and maintain vegetable gardens. Another is the important part played by women in food production; women are often overlooked in agricultural extension projects.
The specific solution here seems to be a strengthening of agroforestry enterprises involving Dayak women. In general, extension efforts should focus on the important food providers in any group, regardless of what gender they might be. (author)