October 9, 2025
By Dr Nurul Hilmiati (University of Mataram, Faculty of Animal Science, Socio-Economic Laboratory and Centre of Sustainable Farming)
By Dr Nurul Hilmiati (University of Mataram, Faculty of Animal Science, Socio-Economic Laboratory and Centre of Sustainable Farming)
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In the peri-urban landscapes of Java—where farmland borders new housing estates and city expansion—women carry responsibilities that are vital yet often invisible. Their daily routines reveal a complex story of resilience, economic contribution, and shifting gender roles within farming communities. Women as Farmers and Homemakers In villages like Desa Duku and Cibungbulang, farming is not limited to men. While men perform heavy labor such as plowing, spraying pesticides, and carrying harvests, women are equally essential in preparing seeds, planting, weeding, and harvesting. Many describe themselves as “career women,” juggling dual offices: their household and the farm. By early morning, they are already tending vegetables—cucumbers, spinach, kangkung, and chili—before returning home to cook for their families. |
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Who Holds the Purse?
Decision-making in farming households reflects a traditional hierarchy. Men usually decide what crops to grow, but women manage family finances. As “family treasurers,” women allocate money for seeds, fertilizers, and daily meals, while men keep small allowances for personal use. This financial management role underscores women’s influence, even if their voices are less visible in strategic agricultural choices.
Struggles with Land and Markets
Land ownership is limited. Many women cultivate small rented plots (often 1,000 m²), while larger lands are controlled by outsiders. For those without land, daily wage work provides income, though rates are modest compared to men’s earnings. Marketing adds another layer of vulnerability: vegetable prices fluctuate overnight, and middlemen often delay or withhold payments. Some community leaders have intervened to block dishonest traders, but uncertainty persists.
Learning Opportunities and Barriers
Agricultural training and extension services typically prioritize men. Women express strong interest in learning—whether about soil fertility, pest control, or food processing—but they feel hesitant in male-dominated sessions. They request women-only training, preferably held in the afternoons when farm work is complete. Moreover, limited digital literacy means that online platforms are less effective; women prefer face-to-face, hands-on learning that can directly improve their farming and family nutrition.
Power of Women’s Groups
Kelompok Wanita Tani (KWT), or Women Farmers’ Groups, provide spaces where women support one another. Groups such as KWT Suka Hati encourage members to use home gardens for vegetables like chili, tomatoes, and leafy greens. These initiatives reduce household expenses and strengthen food security. Yet participation often fluctuates, requiring ongoing encouragement from local leaders such as Bu Nia, who tirelessly motivates women to keep planting.
Shifting Roles
Social norms are gradually changing. Some women now ask husbands to share household chores—like washing dishes—and communities do not view this as unusual. The memory of women leaders, including a female village head, reminds villagers that women can hold authority beyond the household. Alongside farming, many women supplement income through food-based micro-enterprises or, in peri-urban fringes, waste-picking activities near landfills.
Toward Recognition and Inclusion
Women in Java’s peri-urban farming communities are more than “helpers.” They are central to sustaining agriculture, managing household economies, and nurturing community resilience. Yet their contributions remain under-recognized, particularly in decision-making, land access, and training. Supporting women through inclusive extension programs, stable market systems, and recognition of their leadership is not just about equity—it is essential for the survival of peri-urban farming itself.
Decision-making in farming households reflects a traditional hierarchy. Men usually decide what crops to grow, but women manage family finances. As “family treasurers,” women allocate money for seeds, fertilizers, and daily meals, while men keep small allowances for personal use. This financial management role underscores women’s influence, even if their voices are less visible in strategic agricultural choices.
Struggles with Land and Markets
Land ownership is limited. Many women cultivate small rented plots (often 1,000 m²), while larger lands are controlled by outsiders. For those without land, daily wage work provides income, though rates are modest compared to men’s earnings. Marketing adds another layer of vulnerability: vegetable prices fluctuate overnight, and middlemen often delay or withhold payments. Some community leaders have intervened to block dishonest traders, but uncertainty persists.
Learning Opportunities and Barriers
Agricultural training and extension services typically prioritize men. Women express strong interest in learning—whether about soil fertility, pest control, or food processing—but they feel hesitant in male-dominated sessions. They request women-only training, preferably held in the afternoons when farm work is complete. Moreover, limited digital literacy means that online platforms are less effective; women prefer face-to-face, hands-on learning that can directly improve their farming and family nutrition.
Power of Women’s Groups
Kelompok Wanita Tani (KWT), or Women Farmers’ Groups, provide spaces where women support one another. Groups such as KWT Suka Hati encourage members to use home gardens for vegetables like chili, tomatoes, and leafy greens. These initiatives reduce household expenses and strengthen food security. Yet participation often fluctuates, requiring ongoing encouragement from local leaders such as Bu Nia, who tirelessly motivates women to keep planting.
Shifting Roles
Social norms are gradually changing. Some women now ask husbands to share household chores—like washing dishes—and communities do not view this as unusual. The memory of women leaders, including a female village head, reminds villagers that women can hold authority beyond the household. Alongside farming, many women supplement income through food-based micro-enterprises or, in peri-urban fringes, waste-picking activities near landfills.
Toward Recognition and Inclusion
Women in Java’s peri-urban farming communities are more than “helpers.” They are central to sustaining agriculture, managing household economies, and nurturing community resilience. Yet their contributions remain under-recognized, particularly in decision-making, land access, and training. Supporting women through inclusive extension programs, stable market systems, and recognition of their leadership is not just about equity—it is essential for the survival of peri-urban farming itself.