MUNZSSInlD - usaid

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
THE IMPACT OF NTAE PARTICIPATION ON THE EMPLOYMENT, INCOME, AND
QUAI.1TY OF L.IFE OF WOMEN IN GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, AND COSTA RICA
In Central America the term 'nontraditional agricultural exports" (NTAE)
referring
is a loose
to
des'criptor
a mix of different crops in each country that includes fruits, vegetables,
ornamental
cut flowers,
plan:s, foc.iage, spices, herbs, and nuts. Non-traditionals have
much
been
attention
the focus
by
of
development agencies. They are perceived to hold great promise because:
first, they tend to be labor intensive thus helping to address the region's
problems;
unemployment
second, they can often be grown on comparatively small parcels of
achieving
land, thus
a "higher" use of the land and bringing development opportunities within
of
the
smaller
range
la:r ho'.'r. and providing a wider distribution of benefits among the population;
third, they
and,
terd to be high valued, thus helping improve the flow of hard currency into the
region.
One of the L-.spoken assumptions of programs and projects aimed at strengthening the NTAE
subseZor has bcCn that %;onenwil, benefit as much as men from increases in NTAE activity,
and probably more. This has never been confirmed, however, and in fact little is known about
the true nature or magnitude of benefits that may be accruing to women. The question sparking
this study is whether thc promise of benefits from NTAE exports is translating into real benefits
for the women of Central America.
S.ecifically, the purpose of this study is to analyze the impact on women
NTAE
of involvement
through its
in
effect on employment, income and quality of life. The first
describes
par- of this
th.e
study
vomen and men ho work in NTAE production --their civil status, age, education,
chidren, rof and the like. The second part addresses how women experience the impact
of NT'AE ir.their lives.
METHODOLOGY
Given the enormity and variety of possible enterprises and persons working in those enterprises,
the initial research design assumed a selective sampling of products that would allow for
comparisons both within and across the three countries included in the study, namely,
Guatemala, Honduras, and Costa Rica. Based on conversations ,ith several key persons
involved inNTAE production, the fodlo.,ing crops were selected:
1. Melons as a seasonal crop grown in each of the three countries
2. Ornamental plants and/or flowers as a product that is cultivated year-round
i