"Remoteness and poverty go hand in hand ...
both tend to reduce access to markets ..."
--Rural Poverty Report, p. 163

THEME: Difficult physical access to markets affects women more than men.

The IFAD Rural Poverty Report 2001 divides market access constraints into three groups: physical; structural; information and organization-related. The physical access constraint is therefore only one of those affecting the poor. But, it is an important one for remote populations throughout the developing world. There are gender as well as poverty dimensions. In almost all cases where such physical constraints exist, they have a greater negative effect on women than on men.

Market access for the sale of agricultural produce. Women engage mainly in production for family consumption, or for the sale of small surplus in local markets. But they need access to more distant markets for when there is oversupply in the local ones or when prices are better farther away. Women are also increasingly taking up market-oriented production. Women in the Sahel who are involved in vegetable growing for sale often face marketing problems. If women allow husbands or older sons to do the marketing, the men usually keep part of the proceeds. For this reason it is important that women do their own marketing. While in Africa men may use bicycles, headloading is the normal form of transport for poorer women, which limits the distances they can cover. In addition, hiring truckers is expensive, even more so if roads are in poor condition.

Market access for sale of non-farm products. Women who spend long hours on off-farm income-generating activities, often earn very little because of marketing constraints. The exceptions are when villages are located near main roads or close to large town markets. Where culturally acceptable, women give their products to men to sell when they go to town, but, again, with a loss of control over the resulting income.

Market access for women traders. Women traders may need to spend a considerable proportion of their income on transport to market when they are reliant on others. The palayes or women fish traders in Sao Tome and Principe are an illustration from IFAD project experience. These women estimate that fully half of their cash expenditure goes to paying for transport.

Market access for purchase of inputs and technology. Women, like men, are disadvantaged if traders, inputs and technology cannot reach villages because of poor roads. If the farm family needs to go to town to purchase required items, it is usually the man who goes. As found by one IFAD/FAO study, this can mean that women do not always get what they need, as in the case of appropriate agricultural tools. Poor farm-to-market roads and the unavailability of transport also make it more difficult for women to access formal credit and savings because trips to banks require neglect of the women's domestic responsibilities.

Access to labour markets. In much of the developing world, landless or land-poor rural people earn some income in labour markets, often on a seasonal basis. When women also undertake such work, the physical distance of labour markets and the lack of transport make it more difficult for them to combine domestic and work responsibilities.

Distance to markets, aggravated by inadequate roads and transport, creates difficulties for poor men and women, and reduces their chances of escaping poverty. Such constraints tend to affect women even more than men. Where males act as intermediaries for women's market transactions, women normally do not get all the proceeds.

Adapted from:

IFAD. 2001. Rural Poverty Report 2001: The Challenge of Ending Rural Poverty. Oxford University Press. February.