Impact of public policies on agricultural extension for rural women

Abstract

This article examines the impact of public policies with a gender focus, particularly on rural women, to identify the actions that perpetuate inequality, assign predetermined roles, forms of production, and how they are included in the design and implementation of such policies. To this end, 70 women engaged in agricultural production projects in the municipality of Iza, Boyacá, were interviewed with the objective of validating the consistency and effectiveness of the public policy "Join in for gender equality" in that municipality. The most significant findings indicate that women were not socialized with the document in question. Additionally, the presence of government entities is centralized, with a lack of reach to villages. Men have an easier time accessing credit, subsidies, and their work is paid. It can be concluded that discriminatory practices towards rural women persist. While public policies may have a beneficial purpose, it is essential to ensure their socialization among the intended beneficiaries. Additionally, mayors and relevant institutions must develop policies and provide training in key areas such as input management, financial literacy, technology utilization, and the empowerment of rural women as active agents in decision-making processes that affect their work in the field.