Productive public policies: Role and challenges in the empowerment of women in agriculture in Aramango, Amazonas, Peru

Introduction

Productive public policies promote economic and social development by expanding production, infrastructure, access to markets and higher incomes for rural producers (Cruz Saco et al., 2024). Policies articulate intersectoral strategies for rural development with gender equity (Mora-Guerrero et al., 2021). The study emerges from the linkage between the economic and productive work of women in family agriculture and productive public policies that make it possible to observe women’s empowerment in decision-making in agricultural activities. Women’s work in agriculture faces significant barriers that include lack of access to information, decision-making power in the productive sector and limitations in the diversification of their work activities. Women in society are the main providers of welfare in the family, so they face greater difficulties than their male counterparts in reconciling productive work (Aguirre et al., 2014). Lowstanding the barriers that limit women’s empowerment is critical to increase their income, workloads (Völker & Doneys, 2021) and the success of sustainable agriculture (Zaremba et al., 2024).

Economic development and access to resources are empowerment policies (Ladič, 2015), Despite the role women play in agriculture, they continue to be marginalized in the decision-making process, with limited control over productive resources and performing low paid or unpaid work (Quisumbing et al., 2021). Empowering women improves their decision-making capacity, achieving equitable economic and social outcomes in the agricultural sector (Mastewal et al., 2024). In recent years, women’s empowerment has been associated with food security (Asitik & Abu, 2020; Aziz et al., 2021), a challenge faced especially by women in rural areas due to limited access to education, employment and, most importantly, ownership of productive resources (Dzanku, 2019, Achandi et al., 2018). In the Amazon region, women farmers are limited in access to credit and land ownership. Gender equality policies could increase productivity, as studies show that women owning land and financing can increase agricultural productivity (Galiè & Farnworth, 2019)

Literature review

Women’s empowerment is defined as the integration of gender in strategic decision making, which aspects in the life of history has been denied their participation (Kabeer, 1999), both political, economic and social (Haugh & Talwar, 2016). The process of empowerment starts from having an idea of the options and the ability to make decisions that value their time and autonomy in different economic activities (Robinson et al., 2019), it is also lowstood as the process of personal and collective change in community relationships, support networks, knowledge of their rights and the power to openly express their interest among men and women (Cornwall, 2014).

Women’s empowerment implies equal opportunities and rights between men and women (Duarte & Garcia, 2016). This concept encompasses the confidence and self-esteem necessary to have equal access to resources and economic opportunities, thus demonstrating positive effects for women (Pakuna et al., 2024). It also includes the ability to generate income, reinvest, make decisions, and be recognized and valued in their economic activities (Pérez & Vázquez, 2009). Empowerment is manifested at the personal level, with a sense of self and confidence; in close relationships, with the way of working and the ability to negotiate decisions within the family; and at the collective level, with the ability to participate actively in society and in the labor market (Sweetman, 1997; Delgado-Piña et al., 2010).

The participation of women in productive processes contributes to empowerment and sustainable development (Bárcena et al., 2016), becoming a topic of debate and diverse meanings in the sociocultural and political context (Merida & Zambrana, 2024). The construction of public policies in the productive sphere contributes to achieving gender equality, promoting leadership and empowering women (Herrera et al., 2021). These policies should focus on reducing structural discrimination that affects women to participate in economic development, access to land ownership, provide training and professional development, and ensure fair working conditions, not only promoting gender equality, but also boosting economic growth and social welfare, creating more equitable and sustainable societies (Supreme Decree No. 008-2019-MIMP, 2019; Stanley & Lisher, 2023).

It can be said that there are various types of productive public policies covering infrastructure, access to resources, knowledge, institutions and markets. According to some authors, lowdeveloped infrastructure management impedes gender inclusion. Without gender mainstreaming in infrastructure, gender inequalities may persist throughout the life cycle (Morgan et al., 2020; Waziers & Morales, 2020). This leads us to establish the following hypothesis: Productive public policies are positively related to female empowerment in agricultural activity in Aramango.

Methodology

Methods

The present study is based on a quantitative design with data analysis, for which we used:

Results

In this study, the Baremo technique was used to classify the levels of influence of productive public policies on women’s empowerment in agricultural activities in Aramango, Amazonas, Peru. This technique made it possible to evaluate and categorize the participants’ responses into three levels: low, middle and high, according to their perception of the 8 dimensions related to public policies and their impact on productive activities. The results obtained were classified into these three categories, which facilitates the interpretation and analysis of the areas where the greatest deficiencies or advances are perceived. Likewise, through this methodology, a detailed vision of the current conditions of women farmers was obtained, making it possible to identify both the strengths and the persistent challenges in the implementation and fulfillment of these policies.

Table 1 shows that the infrastructure dimension corresponding to the research study on productive public policies: Role and challenges in the empowerment of women in agricultural activity in Aramango, Amazonas, Peru; has a middle level of influence, with 82.5% of respondents indicating that there are deficiencies in transportation routes for agricultural products, that agricultural irrigation is not yet fully technified, and that this influences the price quality of products, due to transfer times and the availability of spaces that are not adequate enough to exercise productive activity. However, the study also shows that 15% of respondents indicate that infrastructure has a high level of influence.

Table 2 shows that the dimension “Access to resources” in the research study on productive public policies in Aramango, Amazonas, Peru, has a mainly middle level of influence, with 87.5% of respondents indicating that the availability of financial resources in the area is limited but sufficient for the development of agricultural activity. Among the most frequently mentioned deficiencies, respondents highlighted restricted access to agricultural credit financing, non-reimbursable public funds, and difficulty in accessing subsidies or government support programs. They also pointed out that the lack of permanent availability of water, fertilizers and soil for cultivation limits the economic growth of women farmers in this area. Even so, as shown in the table, there are 5% of the respondents who consider that there is a high level of access to resources, which suggests that a small sector perceives better conditions for accessing productive resources, such as fertilizers and permanent water for irrigation. However, this low percentage reflects the urgent need to strengthen public policies to ensure equitable and sustainable access to the resources necessary for agricultural development, particularly in rural areas (Aramango District), where women face the greatest number of barriers.

These results, as shown in Table 3, indicate that dimension 3: “Knowledge” of the study of productive public policies in Aramango, Amazonas, Peru, has a mainly middle level of influence, with 85% of respondents indicating that there is some progress in access to agricultural knowledge, although additional efforts are still needed. In particular, respondents indicated that the use of traditional agricultural practices continues to predominate, although the incorporation of new technologies and information tools is presented as an opportunity for improvement. They also indicated that the use of technologies in their cultivation, knowledge transfer channels, the management of seeds used in their agricultural production, the exchange of knowledge between generations, and the effectiveness of health and quality controls in agricultural production are deficient. On the other hand, 15% of the respondents consider that the level of knowledge and technology transfer is high, suggesting that a small percentage of farmers have access to new technologies and more modern agricultural practices, although these results are limited in relation to the total sample. This, therefore, reflects the need to strengthen knowledge transfer channels in the community, improve access to technological tools and ensure continuous training in new technologies for women farmers in this sector.

As shown in Table 4, the “Institutionality” dimension is observed to have a predominantly middle level of influence, with 67.5% of respondents indicating that the effectiveness of agricultural organizations and public institutions is moderate. Despite the fact that the institutions fulfill certain functions, there is a perceived low confidence in their ability to solve the problems and challenges faced by farmers, which is reflected in the perception of limited support from government institutions. 17.5% of the respondents consider that the institutions have a high level of effectiveness and institutional support, suggesting that there is a small sector that fully trusts the institutional work. Meanwhile, 15% consider that the influence of the institutional framework on public policies is low. This low percentage highlights the urgent need to strengthen the capacity of agricultural organizations and public institutions to provide more effective support to farmers, especially in terms of active participation in decision-making and in improving the agricultural production chain.

As shown in Table 5, the “Market” dimension has a predominantly middle level of influence on productive public policies in Aramango, Amazonas, Peru, with 80% of respondents indicating that market-related policies have a moderate influence on their productive activity. The main barriers identified include price competitiveness of agricultural products, which remains a challenge due to fluctuating demand and the high costs of agricultural inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides. In addition, although there are some health and quality measures in place in production, farmers still face difficulties in accessing wider markets due to the lack of effective promotion of products by public entities.

On the other hand, 15% of the respondents consider that public policies have a high level of influence on the market, which suggests that a small sector perceives greater competitiveness and support in the commercialization of agricultural products, on agricultural labor prices and on the promotion carried out by public entities to improve agricultural commercialization. However, this percentage highlights the need to strengthen public policies aimed at promoting agricultural marketing, improving price competitiveness and ensuring more equitable conditions in the negotiation of inputs and labor.

As shown in Table 6, the “Intrinsic Agency” dimension, measured on the basis of indicators related to economic autonomy, organization of time, reconciliation of production and household life, and values related to rights and norms of social coexistence, shows a mostly middle level (72.5%), which reflects that women farmers have made some progress, but still face significant limitations in achieving full empowerment in their economic, personal and social lives. The 27.5% that reach a high level reflect that some women already exercise significant autonomy in these aspects, being potential leaders who could contribute to strengthening collective processes in their communities. The absence of women at the low level is an encouraging indicator, although the predominance at the middle level indicates that a structural transformation that guarantees the full exercise of rights and the autonomous management of time and resources for the majority of women has not yet been consolidated. These results show that female empowerment in Aramango requires public policies that simultaneously address economic, social and cultural aspects, so that women can fully exercise their rights and capabilities in all spheres of life.

As shown in Table 7, the “Instrumental Agency”, understood as the capacity of women farmers to actively participate in strategic decisions about their productive activity, access to financial resources and land management, shows a predominance of middle level (77.5%), which reveals that, although most women participate in agricultural and economic decisions, their margin of autonomy and control is still limited. On the other hand, only 20% reach a high level, which shows that few women manage to exercise full and effective control over these strategic resources. This minority group constitutes a potential community leadership, but its low representation points to the need for more inclusive and sustained public policies. The presence of 2.5% at a low level warns of cases of exclusion or dependency in which women do not actively participate in key decisions on land, credit or income, which requires urgent actions for their real inclusion. These findings highlight the importance of public policies that strengthen access to productive, financial and decision-making resources, ensuring that empowerment is full, sustainable and transformative.

As shown in Table 8, the “Collective Agency” dimension, understood as the capacity of women to actively participate in organizations, assume leadership roles and contribute to the agricultural development of their community, shows a predominance of middle level (70%), which indicates that, although most women participate in collective spaces, their leadership and visibility are not yet fully consolidated. 22.5% of the women surveyed are at the high level, which shows that a significant number of women have managed to position themselves as visible and active leaders, with the capacity to influence decisions and promote sustainable practices in their communities. This group represents a key transformational potential that should be further strengthened and made more visible. However, the existence of 7.5% at a low level indicates that there are still women who do not participate or are not very visible in organizations and collective processes. This data suggests the need for inclusive strategies that bring these women closer to spaces of participation and community leadership. These results show that the Collective Agency of rural women in Aramango is in a process of construction, with important advances, but also with significant challenges. Public policies should focus on breaking access barriers and strengthening female leadership, ensuring that all women can actively participate in the development of their rural communities.

As shown in Table 9, Spearman’s correlation analysis reveals that, within productive public policies, the dimensions of infrastructure (r = 0.190, p = 0.240), access to resources (r = 0.186, p = 0.251) and institutionality (r = 0.031, p = 0.851) do not present a statistically significant relationship with women’s empowerment in agricultural activity in Aramango, Amazonas. In contrast, the dimensions of knowledge (r = 0.458, p = 0.003) and market (r = 0.344, p = 0.030) show a positive and significant correlation with empowerment, suggesting that strengthening access to technical knowledge and improving market opportunities may be key strategies to foster women’s autonomy and participation in this sector. The effect size is high (r = 0.677), and the statistical power reaches 0.98, which ensures the robustness of the finding. This result supports the literature that emphasizes the role of knowledge as a catalyst for women’s empowerment, by enhancing their decision making, participation and autonomy. These results also lowscore the importance of designing differentiated public policies that address structural barriers and promote an enabling environment for agricultural development with gender equity.

As shown in Table 10, the value of 0.318 indicates a weak positive correlation between the two variables. This suggests that as one variable increases, the other tends to increase as well, though the relationship is not strong. However, the p-value is less than 0.05, indicating that the correlation is statistically significant (Sig. bilateral = 0.046). This means there is sufficient evidence to reject the null hypothesis and accept the alternative hypothesis, which posits that there is a correlation between the two variables—specifically, that public policies are positively related to female empowerment in agricultural activity in Aramango. From the perspective of effect size, the value of r = 0.563, r = 0.563, is classified as moderate to large, which reinforces the practical importance of the finding. This measure becomes an argument in favor of the fact that, although the relationship is not very strong, it has significant implications for the development of programs aimed at reducing gender gaps in productive contexts.

In addition, the statistical power calculated with G*Power is high (0.973), indicating a high probability of having detected a true relationship if it exists. This value suggests that the sample size, although modest (N = 40), has been sufficient to guarantee statistical reliability, minimizing the risk of type II error.

Discussion

The results obtained in this study provide a comprehensive view of the impact of productive public policies on women’s empowerment in agriculture in the district of Aramango, Amazonas, Peru. These findings coincide with previous studies, corroborating some key concepts about access to resources, infrastructure, institutions and women’s participation in agriculture.

First, the data obtained on infrastructure show that 82.5% of the participants perceive that public policies have a middle influence. This perception is in line with Morgan et al. (2020) and Waziers and Morales (2020), who state that adequate infrastructure, with a gender focus, is fundamental to mitigate the inequalities faced by women in the agricultural sector. Although there is still a widespread perception that infrastructure is insufficient, the identification of barriers related to transportation routes and the lack of a technified irrigation system lowscores the urgent need to invest in improving infrastructure to facilitate greater efficiency in agricultural production.

In relation to the study of access to resources, most of the women surveyed (87.5%) perceive that public policies have a middle level of impact. This result reflects the persistent disparity in access to productive resources, which coincides with the conclusions of Tapia and López (2022), who highlight the barriers that women face even today in accessing financing and other key resources for the development of their productive activities. This in turn coincides with Brandão, Santos and Rist (2020) who concluded that, despite the existence of rural public policies in the Brazilian semiarid region, women still face difficulties in accessing means of production (land, credit, inputs).

With respect to knowledge and training, 85% of the respondents consider that public policies have a middle level of influence in this area. This finding is consistent with Kabeer (1999) and Mora-Guerrero et al. (2021), who emphasize that training and access to information are essential components for women’s empowerment. Despite advances in training, knowledge about public policies is still limited and deficient. That said, it is necessary to strengthen technology transfer and offer specific educational programs that increase women’s capacity to make decisions regarding their agricultural activities.

In terms of institutionality and market access, the results reflect that most participants perceive a middle influence of public policies. This finding coincides with the observations of Benavente and Valdés (2014), who argue that public policies should be supported by strong institutions that promote gender equality and allow women to access more equitable markets. Although the competitiveness of agricultural products is recognized, there is still a need to strengthen market access policies and improve conditions for women to market their products.

In relation to intrinsic, instrumental and collective agency, the results show that most of the women surveyed perceive a middle level of intrinsic and instrumental agency, reflecting greater control over their personal and productive decisions. However, in collective agency, a greater limitation is observed in community decision making, which highlights the need to strengthen support networks and promote the active participation of women in collective decisions. This finding is consistent with the ideas of Sweetman (1997), who highlights the importance of confidence and autonomy at both the personal and collective levels for female empowerment.

The results obtained indicate that infrastructure, access to resources and institutionality do not present a statistically significant correlation with women’s empowerment in agricultural activity in Aramango, Amazonas. This suggests that, although these factors may be important for agricultural productivity in general, they do not seem to directly influence the strengthening of women’s capacities and autonomy in this sector. This result coincides with Cueva-Rodríguez et al. (2022) who concluded that it is crucial to promote women’s participation as leaders in their communities, in local politics, in associations and in academic spaces, with the support of innovations in technology, improvements in public policies, education and development programs at both the state and regional levels.

On the other hand, the knowledge and market dimensions did show a significant relationship with empowerment. This shows that access to technical information, training and education on agricultural issues, together with the possibility of marketing products low favorable conditions, have a direct impact on rural women’s autonomy and decision-making. In this sense, these findings coincide with previous studies that highlight the role of knowledge as a key factor in reducing gender gaps in agriculture. Furthermore, active participation in the market not only improves access to income, but also increases the visibility and recognition of women in the agricultural value chain.

Finally, the Spearman correlation coefficient, although moderate, is statistically significant, indicating that there is a positive relationship between productive public policies and female empowerment in agricultural activity in Aramango. This finding is in line with previous studies, such as Mastewal et al. (2024), which highlight how well-structured public policies can significantly improve women’s empowerment. However, the weak correlation lowscores that current policies need to be strengthened to maximize their impact. This result coincides with the study conducted in Mexico on rural food public policies, which concludes that female empowerment can be strengthened through targeted food public policies (López García, Valencia López, & Díaz González, 2019).

Conclusions

The study shows that productive public policies have a positive relationship with the empowerment of women in agricultural activities, although the correlation is of moderate magnitude (r = 0.318, p < 0.05). This finding shows that state intervention through actions aimed at strengthening production has tangible effects on the economic and social autonomy of rural women.

The dimensions of knowledge and market access are the most influential in the empowerment of women farmers. The “knowledge” dimension (r = 0.458, p = 0.003) stands out as a key factor, suggesting that technology transfer and continuous training should be priorities in rural development programs with a gender approach.

Infrastructure, access to resources and institutional framework show low or non-significant correlations with women’s empowerment, indicating the existence of structural gaps that limit the impact of policies in these areas. The lack of access to financing, basic services and efficient institutional support continues to be an obstacle for women producers.

The dimensions of empowerment analyzed, intrinsic, instrumental and collective agency, show that women farmers in Aramango have made significant progress in their economic autonomy and productive decision-making, especially in terms of managing their income and participating in agricultural activities. However, these advances are mostly concentrated at intermediate levels, which shows that their empowerment is still partial and faces important structural limitations. Only through a comprehensive and inclusive approach that articulates these dimensions will it be possible to consolidate a real, sustainable and transformative empowerment for rural women in Aramango and similar regions.

The government needs to redesign rural public policies from an intersectional and territorial approach that addresses the particular conditions of women farmers in areas such as Aramango. These policies should promote not only equitable access to productive resources, but also effective mechanisms for participation and leadership in community and productive decisions.

Ethics and consent

The study was conducted in strict adherence to applicable national and international ethical standards for research involving human participants. The research design and execution were grounded in the core ethical principles of social science research, including respect for autonomy, confidentiality, voluntariness, and the dignity of participants.

The participants—rural women from the district of Aramango—provided oral informed consent, in accordance with local cultural protocols that recognize oral agreements as valid in traditional and indigenous rural contexts. This approach was implemented in full observance of the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki for research involving vulnerable populations.

Although a formal IRB-style ethical protocol number was not issued, the study was reviewed and authorized by the academic institution to which the research team belongs. This institution provided official letters of institutional authorization supporting the ethical validity of the study and explicitly approving the fieldwork component.

In addition, formal authorizations were obtained from local authorities in the district of Aramango to carry out the field activities. These included supplementary documentation reinforcing the institutional support for the research process. All documents—duly signed and stamped—demonstrate the ethical review and validation of the study by the competent authorities, ensuring the appropriateness of the research procedures within the local context and their alignment with international guidelines for the protection of human subjects in research.