Forum global sur la sécurité alimentaire et la nutrition (Forum FSN)

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    • In your view what is the relation between sustainable soil use, management and conservation (including soil fertility and health) and gender equity?

      In Micronesia management of soil and enhancement of soil fertility is key for food security of high volcanic and low coral islands. For instance, on low-lying islands, abandoned fields are more prone to water infiltration and soil ‘build-up’ through mulching and composting is the process that help reduce this threat. In some islands, taro patches are owned and managed by women.  Taro patches play an important cultural and social role, and in many islands, women are the guardians of these resources by working the patches to ensure appropriate drainage and soil quality. In other islands, where agroforestry is culturally executed by men, women play an important role in managing home gardens that provide vegetables to the household or local markets. Many times, these gardens require women to practices with active soil management by adding compost or seaweeds to maintain or re-establish soil nutrients.

      What are the distinct roles for women, men, boys and girls in sustainable soil management?

      For the Pacific region this is highly variable and dependent on the country, state or atoll and island. In cases were women are the custodian of taro patches, they also have a direct impact sediments runoff, since the taro patches system naturally traps sediments.

      What are the main gender-based constraints, including unequal gender relations and discriminatory norms that hinder sustainable soil management and contribute to soil degradation? What practical solutions and approaches could help overcoming such barriers?

      In some cases, the low participation in the decision-making process can impair the ability of women and youths to access trainings and information on appropriate methods for soil management. In other cases, access is limited because the time slots allocated to training and workshops are in conflict with women commitments to family and salaried jobs. Creation of active platforms for knowledge exchange and management, as well as replication of trainings and workshop at suitable times, can help improve women access to information and equally build their capacity in sustainable soil management. 

      How can the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment contribute to sustainable soil management and conservation? Which interventions at policy and project/field level are of utmost priority? What are some potential entry points for success?

      Although women and youth are directly contributing to production of crops, playing a key role for households’ adaptation, they are generally not directly involved in land management decisions, which commonly involve adult men of the family or clan. However, increasing recognition of the importance of soil management for households’ gardens and agroforestry is leading to a greater engagement of women groups and youths in trainings for food security that includes aspects of soil and crop management. In the region, women groups and women led NGOs are active in implementing projects or providing training to women, men and youths for best practices for reducing soil erosion and sustainable soil management. In the north west Pacific, projects focusing on utilization of ecosystem-based adaptation practices (e.g. restoration of traditional taro patches, buffer strips, contour bunds, rain gardens, etc.) and production of compost for soil amendment, are targeting both women and men to increase food security. There are several examples from the Republic of Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau where women are leading transformational changes for long-term adaptation, specifically targeting soil erosion and quality for food and water security. For instance, in the Federated States of Micronesia, promotion of portable and normal dry litter piggeries, supported by farmers associations and women associations and groups, is allowing production of local compost from pig waste. This method reduces the threat of animal waste to water ways and human health, while enhancing soil quality. Women groups and NGOs are also implementing soil erosion control techniques, such as planting contour strips along slopes and restoring abandoned taro patches, which are natural sinks for sediments.

      Due to the serious threat of climate change to food security, schools are inserting “learning gardens” in their curricula, while colleges are engaging and training young men and women on innovative agriculture techniques.