Securing the fruits of their labours: the effect of the crisis on women farm workers in Peru's Ica valley

Abstract

Despite immediate promises of economic recovery by some Latin American governments, women in some regions of the continent are feeling the aftermath of the crisis deeply. This is because of both the interconnectedness of their regions to the export market, and pre-existing economic policies and social factors, including gender inequality that strengthens inequalities. These factors are intensifying the impact of the crisis on women's lives. This article draws on Womankind Worldwide research into the case of women farm workers in Peru's Ica valley. It discusses how the economic crisis is increasing women's unemployment, and worsening women's poverty. An analysis of the role of a women's rights organisation in responding to the crisis reveals that solutions to the problems brought by the crisis must go beyond macroeconomic responses.

Keywords:

• Peru
• women
• agri-business
• poverty
• crisis

Acknowledgements

The author thanks FEPROMU for all the inspirational work they do and the information and support to draft this article, and thanks as well Susana Klien, Womankind Worldwide's Head of Programmes, for her support.

Notes

1. Lionel Barber, editor of the Financial Times, and Jonathan Wheatley, Brazil correspondent, interviewed President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in London on November, www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e0357680-cbbf-11de-924d-00144feabdc0.html (accessed November 2009).

2. Taken from the Editorial of El Comercio, Saturday 13 December 2008.

3. See Estudio de Rentabilidad de los Cultivos en los Calles de la Costa, CEPES-MINAG-FAO 2001, cited in Maranon and Moreyra (2009).

4. ‘Direccion de Agronegocios of Ministry of Agricultural’, www.peru.com/.../2009/4/1/DetalleDocumento_543353.asp (accessed November 2009).

5. This is part of an interview with FEPROMU in 2009.

6. Data collected through a focus group held by FEPROMU in March 2009.

7. Ana was interviewed by Rosa Asencio: Project coordinator of the Young People Project. Fepromu, ICA February 2009.

8. Testimony collected by FEPROMU in 2009.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Reineira Arguello

Reineira Arguello is Programme Manager for Latin America at Womankind Worldwide