Exploring Tribal Women’s Role in the Value-Added Bamboo Shoot Product Chain: Challenges in Northeast India

This paper examines the role of tribal women in the bamboo shoot value chain, taking into account their traditional knowledge and the challenges they face. The study was conducted to explore the gender dynamics and socioeconomic barriers faced by tribal women, highlighting their roles in value addition and potential empowerment. The snowball sampling method was employed to recruit 38 tribal women from Ri-Bhoi, Meghalaya, and Karbi Anglong, Assam, and their responses were recorded through semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was used to interpret data, categorising recurring themes into financial barriers, limited market access, and the dual burden of household responsibilities. The study found that women play a significant role in the collection, processing, and value addition of bamboo shoots. However, most of them face significant challenges due to limited access to credit, outdated tools, and underdeveloped markets. Moreover, gendered labour divisions and societal norms further constrain their decision-making power and financial autonomy. These findings suggest that targeted interventions in financial support, capacity building, and market access may help further enhance economic empowerment among tribal women for sustainable rural development in Northeast India