ABSTRACT
One of the concepts to emerge from the Farming Systems approach to agricultural research and extension is that of the recommendation domain. This chapter argues that recommendation domains sensitive to gender issues are difficult to develop due to scant documentation of women's participation in agricultural and farm-related activities in local areas. Women in agriculture tend to share a disadvantaged position in male-oriented agricultural research and development programs. There is an ever-growing consensus that participation by households, and by women within those households, in the farming system is highly contingent on social class. Factors that might be involved include differential access to extra-household labor by ethnic group or different production objectives despite use of the same traditional technologies. Despite broad variations in patterns, the preeminent role of women in the production of food for home consumption appears to cross continental bounds.
