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Gender in agriculture

Focus on... Gender in agriculture

Throughout Africa and much of the developing world, the majority of food is grown by women, yet women own less than two per cent of the world's land, access only ten per cent of agricultural credit and are routinely excluded from opportunities to engage in more productive farming activities. At the same time, millions of people across the developing world go hungry, lacking access to affordable, nutritious food. While these two realities are inextricably linked, overcoming the constraints and barriers that prevent women farmers from maximising their potential is undoubtedly complex, requiring action on many fronts to boost women's skills, confidence, status and power. Focus on gender in agriculture presents experiences and insights from a range of initiatives in Africa and Asia that are working to achieve sustainable improvements in the lives of smallholder women, their families and communities.

Pathways to transformation for smallholder women Sustainable transformation in the productivity of smallholder women farmers depends on achieving impacts in five key areas of change, according to the Pathways Programme being implemented by CARE in Africa and Asia.

Achieving gender equity in agricultural value chains With 700 members from donor agencies, knowledge institutes, NGOs and partner networks, Agri-ProFocus - a partnership that promotes farmer entrepreneurship in developing countries - has been working to improve gender equity in agricultural value chain development initiatives.

Legal empowerment for the women of West Bengal In West Bengal, the Swadhina CSO has worked with tribal and marginalised communities to raise their awareness of gender justice and women's rights to land. Both men and women have taken part in community activities, and women have received literacy, empowerment and leadership training, enabling them to pursue issues with local authorities.

Chickens and eggs: gender dimensions in a marketing project In Malindi district on the Kenya coast, the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) is using a wide range of strategies to engage women in a project to improve the value chain for indigenous chicken and eggs.

Creating entrepreneurs in Rwanda Propagating pineapple suckers to supply Rwandan pineapple farmers with planting material has proved a viable way into commercial agriculture for Rwandan smallholder women. The entrepreneurial skills learned can then be applied to other business ventures.

Learning and earning - women in aquaculture Use of participatory community science has empowered women in Cambodia to take up small-scale aquaculture. The WISH-Pond aquaculture system now offers a potentially more rewarding and sustainable alternative to extensive pond systems previously promoted in the country.

Tackling gender blindness in East African dairy development Transforming the East African Dairy Development project to integrate gender-related activities has required wholesale staff training, development of a gender strategy, recruitment of new expertise and changes in budget allocations.