1 min
“We should collaborate with fairness, where women have equal access to land, quality inputs, resources and market opportunities”. In this week's edition of Letter to my Farmers, Nigerian food expert and agronomist Babatunde Olarewaju discusses why gender equality is important and should be considered in every agricultural initiative.
It has been observed that food production has been declining over the years due to several challenges smallholder farmers face, especially in Africa. Some of the issues contributing to this decline are linked to climate change, poor adoption of technology or mechanisation, insufficient access to financial services and products amongst others. Many studies have highlighted recommendations to improve the situation. However, it seems little or no change has been achieved so far. Sadly, all these issues are mere symptoms of the root cause that is yet to be fully addressed: gender inequality.
In most African nations, women are yet to be recognised as a major stakeholder in the agricultural sector, since they can contribute immensely to the growth in the agricultural sector within the continent. However, unequal access to opportunities have impeded the growth and productivity has declined over the years. Therefore, the solution lies in mainstreaming gender in intervention programmes. This involves bringing women and men together, identifying the peculiar needs, development of strategies to proffer solutions to respective needs and ensuring collaboration among them to achieve desired goal. It is very important to know that men and women have common enemies: poverty, malnutrition and hunger. These enemies do not recognise gender. Therefore, we need to WORK together, identifying our respective strengths and employing them to ensure that we win, together. We should collaborate with fairness, where women have equal access to land, quality inputs, resources and market opportunities within and outside the locality.
In conclusion, it is a very long journey and EVERYONE needs to be involved and understand that gender inequality has adverse effects on everyone's livelihood. Therefore, we must ensure that the needed supports are provided to empower women and integrate gender into programmes and interventions at various levels. This would be the game changer that will transform the agricultural sector and have a great impact on food production, to ensure food security for the increasing population.
Yours-in-service
Babatunde
Training on gender and nutrition in Lagos State
In most African nations, women are yet to be recognised as a major stakeholder in the agricultural sector, since they can contribute immensely to the growth in the agricultural sector within the continent
In most African nations, women are yet to be recognised as a major stakeholder in the agricultural sector, since they can contribute immensely to the growth in the agricultural sector within the continent. However, unequal access to opportunities have impeded the growth and productivity has declined over the years. Therefore, the solution lies in mainstreaming gender in intervention programmes. This involves bringing women and men together, identifying the peculiar needs, development of strategies to proffer solutions to respective needs and ensuring collaboration among them to achieve desired goal. It is very important to know that men and women have common enemies: poverty, malnutrition and hunger. These enemies do not recognise gender. Therefore, we need to WORK together, identifying our respective strengths and employing them to ensure that we win, together. We should collaborate with fairness, where women have equal access to land, quality inputs, resources and market opportunities within and outside the locality.
In conclusion, it is a very long journey and EVERYONE needs to be involved and understand that gender inequality has adverse effects on everyone's livelihood. Therefore, we must ensure that the needed supports are provided to empower women and integrate gender into programmes and interventions at various levels. This would be the game changer that will transform the agricultural sector and have a great impact on food production, to ensure food security for the increasing population.
Yours-in-service
Babatunde
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