Women do have access to the cash they produce, as a result Mandinka women tend to have more discretionary income than Pulaar women. Mandinka Women derive prestige among their peers based on the well being of their family. Women grow rain fed rice, and are likely to help men with their cereal crop harvest. Many women have access to cash from marketing activities. Men are ultimately responsible for ensuring that the family eats at socially accepted levels.
Men are responsible for providing fuel wood for cooking.
Pulaar Women derive prestige among their peers by being superior rice producers. Women grow rain fed rice, by hand with no mechanization. Few women earn small amounts of cash with market gardens or commerce. Men ultimately responsible for ensuring that the family eats at socially accepted levels. Current Situation The Mandinka livelihood system is more diverse and these women farmers have as a motivation the over-all well being of their families that leads this system to food security.