Gendered exclusion in agricultural water governance: A case study in district Okara, Pakistan
| dc.creator | Waqar, Kanwal | |
| dc.creator | Hafeez, Mohsin | |
| dc.date | 2025-12-01 | |
| dc.date | 2025-12-02T07:59:10Z | |
| dc.date | 2025-12-02T07:59:10Z | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-06-27T18:35:10Z | |
| dc.description | Background: Gender disparities in agricultural water management persist globally, yet context-specific evidence from Pakistan remains limited. This study investigates the systemic barriers to gender equity in water governance in District Okara, Punjab, which is a critical agricultural region due to its highly fertile land, extensive canal irrigation system, and significant production of key crops and livestock. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating: (i) a quantitative survey of 402 households (ii) a qualitative gender analysis of national and provincial water policies, and (iii) stakeholder consultations with government departments and Water User Associations (WUAs). Results: The findings reveal a profound disconnect between women’s labor and their decision-making power. Despite contributing 3–4h of daily agricultural labor, only 3% women involved in of on-farm decisions. Policy analysis shows the National Water Policy 2018, and provincial water acts i.e, Punjab Water Act 2019 & KP Water Act 2020 are gender-blind. Institutional barriers are evident, with women in WUAs often serving as “silent observers” and 92% of women requesting flexible training formats to overcome time poverty, exemplified by their 15–30 min daily water collection burden. Conclusion: Gender-blind policies, socio-cultural norms, and institutional constraints collectively sustain women’s exclusion from water governance. Transformative change requires enforceable gender quotas in WUAs, awareness and literacy programs and gender-responsive trainings targeting institutions and WUAs. These interventions are essential for advancing inclusive, SDG-aligned water management in Pakistan and comparable contexts, ensuring equitable access, resilience, and sustainable resource use. | |
| dc.identifier | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178434 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/160121 | |
| dc.language | en | |
| dc.publisher | CAB International | |
| dc.rights | Open Access | |
| dc.source | Waqar, K.; Hafeez, M. 2025. Gendered exclusion in agricultural water governance: A case study in district Okara, Pakistan. CABI Agriculture and Bioscience 6(1):0091. doi: https://doi.org/10.1079/ab.2025.0091 | |
| dc.subject | gender equity | |
| dc.subject | women's participation | |
| dc.subject | water governance | |
| dc.subject | case studies | |
| dc.subject | water user associations | |
| dc.title | Gendered exclusion in agricultural water governance: A case study in district Okara, Pakistan | |
| dc.type | Journal Article |