The importance of women to agroforestry in Borneo

Reference Type Journal Article
Year of Publication
1981
Contributors Author: Carol J. Pierce Colfer
Journal
Pacific Health
Volume
14
Pagination
10-13
Date Published
01/1981
Language
English
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Abstract
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)
Research Notes
Pacific Health is published by the School of Public Health, University of Hawaii/Manoa