Perceptions of the ‘mighty’ about vulnerability of female farmers: Policy implications for flood management in Badin, Pakistan
Nazima Shaheen*
This study assesses the perceptions of decision makers about the vulnerability of ‘small women farmers’ to floods in Pakistan, with potential implications for adapting policy to meet their needs. The key research question is: How do decision makers in district Badin, and within the federal government, interpret the vulnerability of small women farmers?

The respondents or the decision makers included practitioners at district level belonging to the Badin disaster management authority; agricultural extension department; representatives from organisations working on women issues; representatives of farmer groups; women political leaders; and relevant non-governmental organisations. The research also included policy makers at federal level from theNational Disaster Management Authority, Ministry of Climate Change, Federal Flood Commission and Ministry of National Food Security.

The study which was conducted during 2013 used the political ecology framework to develop an understanding of marginalisation of female farmers as perceived by decision makers. A case study methodology using interviews was employed to explore perceptions of respondents regarding women farmers.

The research demonstrates that women in general, and small women farmers specifically, are vulnerable even under normal situations due to socio-cultural and economic factors, which favour men due to a prevailing patriarchal system. Disasters, like floods, make these vulnerabilities more explicit and make small women farmers physically, socio-culturally, and institutionally vulnerable to natural calamities. The research is an important contribution to decision-making literature because of the emphasis on how decision makers perceive the vulnerability of these female famers and how their perceptions inform responses before, during and after floods in Pakistan. Moreover, the research also identifies the institutional gaps such as lack of clarity and implementation hurdles regarding the District Disaster Management Plan which further widens the scale of women small farmers’ vulnerability.
* Ms Nazima Shaheen is presently working with Organisational Effectiveness Department of Action Aid Pakistan. This research study was conducted as part of her Master thesis from the University of Melbourne, Australia. The author acknowledges the support of her thesis supervisor Dr. Brain Robert Cook.