THE myriad challenges faced by rural women, particularly climate-related, was the highlight of Thursday’s launch of the International Day of Rural Women.
Presided over by the minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Monica Mutsvangwa, the event zeroed in on food security in the face of climate change, and other agriculture-related challenges such as access to farmland, affecting rural women.
The majority of women in the country live in rural areas, where they constitute both the bulk of farmers, and providers of farm labour.
As a result, they are most affected by climate change impact on agriculture, both in terms of food security at household level, and income derived from farming.
“For those who work on agriculture and economic empowerment issues, climate change clearly connects to the country’s farmers and their crops, which will continue to be affected by climate change,” Mutsvangwa said.
“Eighty percent of women live in communal areas where they constitute 61 percent of the farmers and provide 70 percent of the labour force,” she said.
Inspite of the numerical advantage, Mutsvangwa said women controlled less land compared to men, and usually farmed the least viable soil. As a result, “even with the best weather conditions, women farmers have a tough time getting their crops to the market, ploughing their fields and owning their own land,” Mutsvangwa decried.
“Greater food security would be achieved if women had access to needed assets, equipment and resources and had a voice in the decisions that have an impact on the lives of their households and communities,” she said.
“Add to those obstacles a drought, a flood, or even a mild shift in climate that reduces or devastates crops, and women and their families can be plunged into deeper poverty,” added.
She said women’s farm produce is usually used to feed the family or to sell in order to provide income for school, medicine or household needs.
The International Day of Rural Women was set aside by the United Nations to reflect on the contributions that women in rural areas make to their families, communities and the countries. The theme for 2023 is “Rural Women Cultivating Good Food for All.” — New Ziana