Women are the backbone of the agricultural sector and have irreplaceable contributions in the national efforts exerted to bring about all-round development.
Women, mainly in Africa, often apply maximum energy and perform a number of activities on farmlands. Ranging from sowing seeds to weeding, from threshing to harvesting crops, from feeding cattle to milking cows and selling agricultural outputs, women perform multiple tasks on farmlands. However, despite their incalculable endeavors, their efforts, in most cases, are left unnoticed and; though it may seem strange, it is less cherished.
Even following the cultural, traditional and religious barriers, as well as the deeply ingrained gender-based discrimination, women often face a number of obstacles, including inequality in land ownership, finance, inputs and technology.
It is clear that Ethiopia is a country where around 85 percent of its people are agrarian; and the role of women in the agriculture sector is multidimensional. Like many of the African countries, Ethiopian women exerted maximum energy in farm related activities and carry out various tasks aside from discharging the daily routine house chores. They plow fields, sow seeds, weed, cultivate and harvest crops plus supply goods to markets.
According to studies, women farmers in Ethiopia perform up to 75 percent of farm labor, representing 70 percent of household food production; but hold only 18.7 percent of agricultural land and head 20.1 percent of rural households. Their farms are smaller than men’s and produce 35 percent less than male farmers because they have lower levels of input use such as seeds and fertilizer and less access to extension services.
In fact, with the aim to curb the barriers women in agriculture face, Ethiopia has been working extensively over the last decades. It has been undertaking important measures to address challenges associated with land ownership, finance, agricultural inputs and technology among others; and increase their economic benefits. As a result, even though it is not at the required level, remarkable achievements are witnessed.
In the same manner, in accordance to the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals which clearly stipulate the importance of gender equality and food security in Africa’s agricultural landscape, African countries have been working committedly to support women in agriculture and improve their own and families’ livelihood by devising apt policies and programs.
Recently, the Empowering Women in Agriculture (EWA) held its 7th High-Level Breakfast Meeting to showcase African women’s advancement in agriculture under the theme “Scaling up empowerment, Highlighting achievements, and Cultivating partnerships.”
At the meeting, including President Sahle-Work Zewde, Former President of the Republic of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo took part.
Speaking on the occasion, President Sahle-Work Zewde said that empowering rural women is not merely a necessity but it is an essential move for the economic growth of Africa and the continent’s future, African News page reported.
“Empowering rural women is not only a matter of justice, equality, and human rights but also a cornerstone for constructing a smart economy and promoting sustainable development across all sectors,” the President underscored.
According to her, if rural women are empowered and their full potential is applied in the overall development growth of the country, it creates an environment that is conducive to innovation as well as enhances productivity and cultivates prosperity, which benefits individuals and communities alike. To this end, investing in the empowerment of rural women is of critical importance. “Thus, we have to invest in rural women to lay the groundwork for inclusive growth and equitable progress that propels our continent forward into a brighter, more prosperous future.”
Sharing President Sahle-Work’s idea, Former President of Liberia and EWA Champion Ellen Johnson Sirleaf also highlighted the irreplaceable importance of ensuring food security as a fundamental prerequisite for sustainable development. She also stated the close relationship between food security and gender equity, as well as women’s crucial role in the agriculture sector for the reason women play a significant role in the agricultural labor forces, engaging in both subsistence farming and cash crop cultivation.
AU Commission’s Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security Bineta Diop on her part emphasized the significance of mechanizing agricultural processes referring to the tangible outcomes achieved in Malawi. According to her, through the synergy in intervention and commitments of all stakeholders, drawing attention to EWA’s successful collaboration with the OCP Foundation in Malawi, impressive achievements are witnessed in Malawi. She described the achievements in mechanization and capacity building as examples of what can be accomplished through collaborative efforts.
“In Malawi, the partnership with the OCP Foundation has led to significant strides in mechanizing agricultural processes, thereby enhancing efficiency and productivity in the sector. Additionally, capacity-building initiatives have empowered local communities with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in modern agricultural practices. I wish to stress the importance of replicating such successful models across other regions and sectors to drive sustainable development and transformative change on a broader scale,” as she stated.
The EWA breakfast meeting brought together a wide-range of stakeholders, namely rural women from Senegal, Malawi and Tanzania, civil society actors, private sector leaders as well as representatives of UN, AU, international NGOs and foundations. It was a platform for exchange of valuable insights and practical strategies for scaling up commitments towards empowering African women in agriculture, News page added.
The Empowering Women in Agriculture (EWA) strives to empower women in African agriculture for viable livelihood and food security, as well as to become active economic agents in Africa through effectively mainstreaming the needs of empowering women in African agriculture in all major development policies and programs, it was learnt.
EWA has been recognized by AWLN as an innovative solution and is dedicated to uplifting women smallholder farmers in Africa by providing them with the resources, support, and opportunities needed to thrive in the agricultural sector. Hosted by Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS), this event serves as a pivotal platform for fostering partnerships and collaborations aimed at advancing gender equality and sustainable agricultural practices across Africa.
BY LEULSEGED WORKU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2024
