Glossary
Birth Rate
The number of live births per 1,000 people in a population within a given year, reflecting the rate at which new individuals are added to a population.
Example:
A country with a high Birth Rate might face challenges in providing sufficient educational and healthcare resources for its rapidly growing youth population.
Demographic Shifts
Changes in the characteristics of a population over time, such as alterations in birth rates, death rates, age structure, or total fertility rates.
Example:
As more women gain education and economic independence, many countries experience Demographic Shifts characterized by smaller family sizes and an aging population.
Discriminatory Laws
Legal frameworks or policies that disadvantage women, often limiting their rights to land ownership, inheritance, or access to financial services in agriculture.
Example:
Historical Discriminatory Laws in some regions meant that land titles were exclusively granted to male heads of household, leaving women without legal claim to the farms they worked.
Empowerment Efforts
Initiatives and programs designed to enhance women's capabilities, access to resources, and decision-making power, particularly within the agricultural sector.
Example:
Providing literacy classes and business training to rural women are examples of Empowerment Efforts that can boost their agricultural productivity.
Life Expectancy
The average number of years a person is expected to live from birth, given current mortality rates in a specific population.
Example:
Improvements in healthcare, sanitation, and nutrition have significantly increased global Life Expectancy over the past century.
Market Access
The ability of farmers, especially women, to connect with buyers, transport their products, and sell them at fair prices in local, regional, or international markets.
Example:
Building new roads and establishing community collection points improved Market Access for women farmers, allowing them to sell their produce directly rather than through middlemen.
Poor Infrastructure
The lack of adequate basic facilities and systems, such as roads, transportation, storage, and communication networks, which hinders agricultural productivity and market integration.
Example:
Due to Poor Infrastructure, many rural farmers struggle to transport perishable goods to urban markets before they spoil, leading to significant post-harvest losses.
Population Decrease
A decline in the total number of individuals within a population over a specific period, often resulting from low birth rates, high death rates, or significant out-migration.
Example:
Several European nations are experiencing a Population Decrease due to persistently low birth rates and an aging demographic.
Resource Access
The ability of individuals, particularly women in agriculture, to obtain essential productive resources such as land, credit, education, and technology.
Example:
A farmer's cooperative helped women secure microloans, improving their Resource Access to purchase better seeds and tools.
Social Barriers
Cultural norms, traditions, and societal expectations that limit women's participation, decision-making power, and opportunities within agricultural systems.
Example:
In some communities, traditional gender roles act as Social Barriers, preventing women from attending agricultural training workshops or owning land.
Total Fertility Rate (TFR)
The average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime, assuming current age-specific fertility rates remain constant.
Example:
When a country's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) drops below 2.1, it indicates that the population will likely begin to shrink without immigration.
Women's Role in Agriculture
Refers to the significant involvement of women in various agricultural activities globally, including planting, harvesting, and livestock care, despite often facing systemic disadvantages.
Example:
In many developing countries, women are the primary cultivators of staple crops, demonstrating their crucial Women's Role in Agriculture in ensuring food security.