WUNRN
WOMEN & FOOD - AGRICULTURE -
FOOD SECURITY - FOOD SOVEREIGNTY - LAND - RIGHT TO FOOD - NUTRITION - HUNGER -
POVERTY - RESOURCES
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FAO Statistical Yearbook 2013 World food and
agriculture FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS Rome 2013 |
In many poor developing countries,
primary activities such as agriculture still constitute the backbone of the
economy. However, the sector often faces many challenges. A profound and
prolonged lack of investment in agriculture is evident in many countries.
Notably, infrastructure is missing or weak in rural areas, agricultural
productivity is stagnant, and lack of opportunities for income diversification
combines with poorly functioning markets to undermine economic growth.
There is often a
gender divide. Although women make significant contributions to the rural
economy, they often have less access to productive resources than men, and
families often rely on children’s work for survival.
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FAO - WOMEN IN
AGRICULTURE: CLOSING THE GENDER GAP FOR DEVELOPMENT
Women make
significant contributions to the rural economy in all developing country
regions. Their roles differ across regions, yet they consistently have less
access than men to the resources and opportunities they need to be more
productive. Increasing women’s access to land, livestock, education, financial
services, extension, technology and rural employment would boost their productivity
and generate gains in terms of agricultural production, food security, economic
growth and social welfare. Closing the gender gap in agricultural inputs alone
could lift 100–150 million people out of hunger.
No blueprint exists for closing the gender gap, but some basic principles are
universal: governments, the international community and civil society should work
together to eliminate discrimination under the law, to promote equal access to
resources and opportunities, to ensure that agricultural policies and programmes
are gender-aware, and to make women’s voices heard as equal partners for
sustainable development. Achieving gender equality and empowering women in agriculture
is not only the right thing to do. It is also crucial for agricultural
development and food security.
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