title: Impact of gender participation in non-farming activities on household income and poverty levels in Pakistan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the rural areas of Pakistan, the majority of farm households have small landholdings of less than 2 hectares. Both male and females are engaged in farming and non-farming activities. However, in Pakistan the gender-wise participation in farming activities is not much documented.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The main objective of the current study is to estimate the impact of male and female participation in non-farming activities on a household's income level and poverty status in Pakistan.
  
  
  METHODS
  The current study is based on a cross-sectional data set collected from 325 households through a purposive random sampling technique. A detailed comprehensive questionnaire was prepared for data collection. The data were analyzed by employing the propensity score matching approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The empirical results indicate that both male and female participation in non-farming activities has a positive impact on household welfare in Pakistan by raising income levels and thus contributing to poverty reduction. However, the impact is greater when the males of a household take part in these activities rather than the females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the past only a few studies have focused on gender-based participation in non-farming activities. The non-farming sector is an important one in rural areas, especially in developing countries like Pakistan. More opportunities need to be created for both men and women in rural areas of Pakistan to find off-farm work, in order to increase household income and reduce poverty levels.
authors.affiliation: International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Akhter
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Erenstein
authors.affiliation: International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Dil Bahadur
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Rahut
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D010154:Pakistan; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Non-farming opportunities; propensity score matching; rural areas