Women in Agriculture - Farmsecure

elated to natural disasters and environmental changes,
worsening access to water and increasing occupational
and health risks.
Frankly, despite progress made in international policies
since the first World Conference On Women in 1975,
it must be said that urgent action is still necessary
to implement gender and social equity in AKST
(Agricultural Knowledge Science & Technology)
policies and practices if the gender issues are to be
addressed as integral to the development processes.
GreenFacts says that actions that will address it will
include the strengthening of the capacity of public
institutions and NGOs to improve the knowledge of
women’s changing forms of involvement in farm and
other activities in AKST. What is required is not only giving
priority to women’s access to education, information,
science and technology, but also extending services to
enable the improvement of women’s access, ownership
and control of economic and natural resources. The
above needs ownership and control legal measures,
appropriate credit schemes, support for women’s
income generating activities and the re-enforcement of
women’s organisations and networks.
“This, in turn, depends on strengthening women’s ability
to benefit from market-based opportunities by institutions
and policies giving explicit priority to women farmer groups
in value chains.” – GreenFacts
Mrs. Helvi Sipila of
Finland,
Secretary-General
of the First World
Conference on Women
in Mexico City (1975)
attending the Fourth
World Conference on
13 September 1995 in
Beijing, China. Credit:
UN/DPI 131231/Yao
Da Wei
The report concludes that a number of other changes
will strengthen women’s contributions to agricultural
production and sustainability. Changes needs to be
made to public services support and investment in rural
areas in order to improve women’s living and working
conditions; giving priority to technological development
policies targeting rural and female farmer’s needs and
recognising their knowledge, skills and experience in the
production of food and the conservation of biodiversity;
and last but not least, assessing the negative effects and
risks of farming practices and technology, including
pesticides on women’s health as well as taking measures
to reduce use and exposure.
“Finally, if we are to better recognise women as integral
to sustainable development, it is critical to ensure gender
balance in AKST decision-making at all levels and provide
mechanisms to hold AKST organisations accountable for
progress in the above areas.” – GreenFacts
Chief Editor Chantal Yazbek, Elvera Strydom Sub-editor & Writer, Layout & Design Dieter Strumpher,
Published by Farmsecure Holdings (PTY) LTD.