Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

This study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the socio-economic potential and role of mushroom cultivation in rural Sri Lanka, specifically focusing on the Gender Empowerment Perspectives. Addressing a lack of comprehensive empirical research concerning mushroom cultivation's effects on income generation and gender dynamics within rural households, the research investigates its potential to empower marginalized communities, especially women, and improve the economic conditions of smallholder farmers. The study was conducted with cultivators in the Rabukkana and Kegalle Divisional Secretariat divisions, Kegalle District.

The research is grounded in a constructivist epistemology and utilizes a phenomenological research design to explore the "lived experiences" and socioeconomic realities of mushroom farmers. A qualitative approach was employed, relying on methodological triangulation via semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), and direct observations. The theoretical framework integrates Kabeer’s Empowerment Theory (Resources, Agency, and Achievements) with Giddens’ Structuration Theory (Structure and Agency) and Bourdieu’s Theory of Practice (Habitus, Capital, and Field).

The findings confirm that mushroom cultivation serves as a viable and accessible livelihood strategy for small-scale and women-led enterprises due to its low land and capital requirements, short production cycle (approximately 2.5 months), and capacity for year-round income. This economic viability establishes the financial contribution as the foundation for agency. The resultant economic independence translates into greater negotiating power, increased autonomy, and active participation in household decision-making regarding expenditures and resources, which are measured as significant Achievements. This enhanced socioeconomic status results in greater respect and visibility for women within their families and the broader community.

However, the primary conclusion is that this transformation involves an incremental shift rather than a fundamental transformation of deeply embedded social structures. The division of labor remains gendered: while women overwhelmingly handle core production tasks (e.g., harvesting, watering, bag filling), men typically retain control over tasks requiring mobility, external negotiation, and capital investment (e.g., sterilization, transportation, and marketing). This confirms that individual agency is constrained by the Habitus (ingrained norms) that restricts women's mobility and access to the market Field. Furthermore, the success achieved is unequal, as it is fundamentally mediated by the farmer’s pre-existing Human Capital (educational attainment).

Finally, the long-term sustainability of the enterprise is undermined by persistent structural constraints and policy deficits. Farmers unanimously identified critical gaps, including the lack of cold storage facilities and post-harvest management knowledge, alongside exploitation by middlemen who impose low, non-negotiable prices. The study provides actionable insights for the Agricultural Extension Service (AES) and development organizations, emphasizing that sustained intervention is essential to address these structural barriers and strengthen farmers' collective agency and human capital through targeted training and loan schemes.