La Dimensión de Género en las Políticas Públicas para la Pequeña Agricultura: Un Estudio con las Agricultoras de Yumbel, Chile

Abstract

This article analyses the gender dimension of public policies for small-scale agriculture in Chile, emphasising the interaction between gender, public policies and rural development. Due to the use of a participatory methodology, the knowledge acquired during this study was co-constructed semi-structured interviews with small-scale women farmers in Yumbel, Bio-Bío Region, Chile, where the main challenges that hinder their development and participation in public spaces were revealed. The results indicate that, although these women occupy a crucial position in small-scale agriculture, they face structural obstacles due to policies that do not adequately integrate a gender perspective. Two key challenges are presented: migration, demographic transformation, and the absence of a gender perspective in the sector’s policies. Based on these challenges, recommendations are suggested for inclusive agricultural policies that recognise and support the role of women in smallholder agriculture as a path to sustainable agricultural development in Chile. The importance of this recognition and support cannot be overemphasised; empowering women smallholder farmers contributes to the overall growth and sustainability of the agricultural sector.