|
|
|
|
|
Areas for actionIn most developing countries, both men and women farmers do not have access to adequate resources, but women's access is even more constrained as a result of cultural, traditional and sociological factors. Accurate information about men's and women's relative access to, and control over, resources is crucial in the development of food security strategies.
Access to land Ownership of land encourages farmers to invest time and resources in long-term improvements and facilitates access to agricultural support services. Inheritance and land tenure laws limit women's ownership and use of land. Access to credit Short- and long-term credit is needed to pay for inputs and hired labour. In the developing world, banks and credit associations are less inclined to lend to women because, without property and land rights, they lack collateral. Access to agricultural inputs Improved seeds, fertilizers and pesticides are a vital means of enhancing production. Extension services and cooperatives distributing inputs rarely reach women who also lack the necessary cash to purchase even government-subsidized inputs. Access to extension and training Agricultural extension programmes inform farmers about new technologies and plant varieties. Few extension services are targeted at rural women, few of the world's extension agents are women and most of the extension services focus on commercial rather than subsistence crops - the primary concern of women. Access to education Investing in human capital reduces poverty and encourages sustainable economic growth. But prevailing attitudes about women's social, political and cultural rights severely limit girls' access to education throughout the developing world. Access to technology Labour-saving technologies are important means of increasing production and improving people's quality of life. But the needs and priorities of women are rarely considered in the research and development of agricultural technology. Access to rural organizations Agricultural cooperatives and farmers' organizations help members obtain resources and represent members' interests before government. But a common prerequisite for membership of these rural organizations is, very often, 'head of household status' or land ownership, which applies solely to men. Access to services Services such as transport and market facilities help farmers expand their income-generating activities. Although women have a role in the trading of goods and the food they produce, illiteracy and lack of legal rights prevent them from joining formal service institutions.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
