Moreover, these holdings are characterized by degraded soils, arid and semi-arid locations and intensive cultivation. A large percent of middle farmers are in debt and no longer qualify for credit. Women's access to agrarian reform has been hindered by definitions of head of household and agricultural work. The peace agreement references to agrarian reform make no mention of women. Women are generally responsible for the raising and care of poultry and small livestock for the household.
Women use forests to obtain food products and fuelwood and men to obtain wood for construction.
Most rural women use rivers for washing clothes and bathing. Women have limited access to credit. When rural women are able to obtain credit, terms of repayment often force them to sell their harvest at low prices, rather than storing it until prices are higher. While women have little access to formal credit, many women have been able to access credit through informal community banks and savings groups, and donor-supported credit projects and programmes. A field survey indicated that lack of collateral and lack of information were the two major obstacles to women's access to credit.