Prof. Dr. Bulent GULCUBUK, Department of Agricultural Economics, Ankara University, Faculty of Agriculture, Turkey

Dr. Bulent GULCUBUK is a Professor of Agricultural Economics. GULCUBUK joined the academic life in 1990. GULCUBUK is Assoc. Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Ankara University, Faculty of Agriculture, Turkey. GULCUBUK holds a B.Sc. in Agricultural Economics. He earned his M.Sc. in Rural Sociology and Ph.D. in Rural Development from the Ankara University. Dr. GULCUBUK has extensive scholarly researches that have been presented at national as well as international forums. He has written numerous research books and papers. He is member of International Association of Agricultural Economics, European Sociology Association and Rural Sociological Society. He is director of Development Studies Center-Ankara University. His research areas include rural and agricultural development, agricultural policy, rural sociology, entrepreneurship, rural economy, rural industry, rural woman.

Speech Title: Aspects of women labour in agriculture in the world: turkey case

Abstract
Women are always involved in productive and economic activities be it agriculture or non-agriculture. Women's economic activities have changed in terms of form and content as a result of economic, social and technological changes in the course of history. In parallel with an increase in an organisational characteristic of social and economic life, particularly after the Industrial Revolution, economic activities were mostly conducted by large enterprises. Therefore, the role and importance of enterprises increased also for women's economic activities. In line with these, women willingly or unwillingly have found a position in agricultural production. Joining labour force and social life is important for the solution of problems that women, particular those who live and work under hard conditions in rural areas face. There are more than 1 billion women who work in the agriculture sector in the world. These work and live under hard conditions especially in poor countries and rural areas. The 22% of the total employment belongs to the agricultural sector. This percentage reaches 40% for women while it is 17-18% for men. In other words, women employment is 2.5 times more than men employment in the agriculture sector. On the other hand, ¾ female labour in agriculture is part of the unpaid family labour force and out of social security system.
Women, who join female labour generally in rural areas, work in lower status and with no job security even if these are not qualified jobs. This fact may lead to the isolation of women from professional and social life. Most of the women who work in rural areas are part of unpaid family labour force both in Turkey and in the world. Increasing female labour force is mainly related to economic improvement and also requires new investments and work areas. Low level of women who are also “employers” in rural areas is a significant, too. This aspect proves that there is almost no “entrepreneur” women in the society. Another important aspect, which needs attention, is that women in rural areas and agriculture are neglected though they are actively and densely involved in professional life as well as social-cultural life.
While women have a high percentage of joining the labour force in rural areas, mainly because of being part of an unpaid family labour force, the decrease in agricultural employment in Turkey leads to a gradual decrease also in women employment in the sector. Women who work in agriculture cannot join labour force or face difficulties in this regard when they try to find a job in another sector or move to somewhere else. As for the women who can find a job under these conditions they mostly work in lower status, not qualified jobs and without job security. This fact may lead to the isolation of women from professional and social life. According to the Turkish Statistical Institute data in 2017; employment rate is 44.8% and the labour force participation rate is 51.5%. Male labour force participation rate did not change and remained at 71.5% and the female labour force participation rate is 32%. The important aspect of this data is; 80.9% of people in agriculture sector work informally. While it is 69.7% for men, up to 95% of women work informally. The rate of people who work informally in other sectors decreases to 21% though it is 80.9% in the agriculture sector.
Female labour force productivity rate varies depending on family’s field, livestock, income and production design. Increasing mechanisation in agriculture, however, leads women to out of agricultural production and they become housewives losing their potential to work. Being part of the (unqualified) labour force, which does not require knowledge or technology, is a significant aspect of the female labour force, no matter in which form, in rural areas. Although “unqualified” is generally a relevant aspect to all people (farmers) in rural areas, naming men as a “farmer” means informing and updating them on all developments in agricultural production that have still a traditional social structure; getting education and/or training even though it is partial, and all these aspects result in “apparently qualified” men farmers. On the other hand, women do not have obtained the labels of “qualified” and “official” status despite they experience all these processes in agricultural production. This is the worst form of injustice to women in agriculture. The invisibility of women, who occupy about half of the employment in agriculture and are active in more than half of the agricultural production processes, is a phenomenon similar to “ignoring half of the sky”. The solution of problems that women in rural areas face in Turkey and in the world, first, requires awareness and sensitivity in this regard. Being aware and sensitive to these problems is useful so that a significant issue can become a current issue. Registering female labour force and providing these women with social security system are important for millions of families be they are paid workers or work in their own field. This paper will provide information about women who work in agriculture in Turkey and in the world, also about the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the situation. Finally, this paper will put forward several suggestions for the solution of problems that women face in agriculture.