WSEAS Transactions on Environment and Development
Print ISSN: 1790-5079, E-ISSN: 2224-3496
Volume 16, 2020
Gender Participation in Palm Sugar Processing in Kolaka District of Southeast Sulawesi
Authors: ,
Abstract: The study aimed to assess gender involvement in palm sugar (gula aren) processing. The study was carried out in a palm sugar producing village in Wolo subdistrict, Kolaka district, Southeast Sulawesi. Twenty palm sugar farmer-processors living in the village were selected as respondents. Data collection was done using questionnaire-based interview and Key Informant Interview (KII) methods. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics as well as scoring method based on five-point Likert Scale responses. Study results showed that women are not involved at all in tapping preparation, tapping, and sap filtering. Women are involved in cooking, stirring, molding, and marketing, but their level of participation is much lower than that of men. Wrapping solid sugar is the only practice where women’s involvement is higher than men’s. A grand mean participation index of 1.9 for women and 4.4 for men indicated that palm sugar processing is a men-dominated livelihood. Next studies need to examine whether this status of men-dominated livelihood also applies in other sugar palm growing areas within the province. The study recommended that women should be motivated and encouraged to engage more in home-based activities of palm sugar processing.
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Pages: 34-39
DOI: 10.37394/232015.2020.16.4