IMPACTS OF ACCESS TO ROADS AND MARKETS ON RURAL WOMEN’S WELFARE DURING COVID 19 PANDEMIC IN UZBEKISTAN

Аннотация

The article presents the analysis of the impacts of poor access to roads and markets to the welfare of rural women during COVID 19 pandemic and their livelihood strategies. This paper argues that rural women’s access to infrastructure directly and indirectly impact on the welfare of their families and households. It was revealed that the lack of access to transport and markets decreases the social and economic opportunities of the rural women in effective contribution to the budget of their families, particularly during COVID 19 pandemic. In spite of these challenges, rural women play a vital role in the agriculture development and sustainable development of their families and communities. During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in rural communities of the Urta-Chirchik district of Tashkent region the rural women’s empowerment in agriculture sector significantly increased and contributed to sustainable development of their families as well as their communities.