Rural women play an active part in food and other crop production, fisheries and livestock, especially poultry raising. In forestry, women are involved in the production and transplanting of seedlings. Since income from agriculture is often insufficient for subsistence, rural women's nonagricultural activities, such as carpet weaving and other crafts, are important to household survival. Division of Labour by Gender . Women also play an important role in livestock raising and dairy production and in the processing and marketing of fish.
Activities vary by region and crop.
Increased farm mechanization has decreased women's part in planting operations, but has increased opportunities for employment in processing of food and animal products. Gender Relations in Decision-making in Farming Activities . Most decisions related to food and other crops are made by men, although women sometimes participate in decisions on surplus production and the use of income from crops such as sugar beets, pulses and garden fruits. Women and men share equally in decisions on poultry and women also have a say in decisions regarding cattle and, to a lesser extent, sheep.