Gender segregation in farm labour, its roles and dynamic during Covid pandemic: case study from West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

Assessment Institute for Agricultural Technology West Nusa Tenggara, Mataram, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: hilmiati@yahoo.com

Abstract

Farm labour plays significant roles in crops production. This paper aims to describe gender segregation in crops farming, its roles and dynamic during Covid pandemic in West Nusa Tenggara. A survey was conducted in three districts, East Lombok, Sumbawa and Bima, involving 102 farmers. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected using interview method which then analysed descriptively. The results showed that most respondents employed woman labours for planting and mixed labour for harvesting amid the land ownership discrepancy and agroecology conditions. Women were considered to be more skilful and diligent than men. Nevertheless, they received lower pay by 50-100% on daily basis. Covid pandemic situation has posed varying effects on labour prices, work availability and movement. Labour prices generally has increased due to increasing prices of basic needs, yet work availability decreased as land owners tried to reduce cost because of rocketing fertiliser prices. Pandemic situation did not affect labour movement was in East Lombok and Bima since majority farmers used local labour. While in Sumbawa, as many farmers relied on migrant labour from Lombok and Bima for harvesting, the 2020 has affected harvest quality and subsequently selling prices due to late harvest since labours were not allowed to travel.