The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) celebrated the International Day of Rural Women to bring rural women- the invisible workers into the limelight and to recognize rural women's contribution in enhancing agricultural and rural development in Pakistan.

The idea of an annual Rural Women's Day was launched at the 1995 United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. This year the Rural Women's Day was celebrated in some 50 countries.

Statistics show that most of the poor around the world are women and these women are not only responsible for feeding their hungry families as well as themselves. The rural women day is a tribute to these women whose hard work and labour not only feeds their households but also large urban populations around the world. Despite their mammoth contribution to the world's food security and availability many a times these women are the last to gain access to resources, training and financial loans.

In the observance of the occasion, FAO supported and participated in the 7th Annual Conference on "Rural Women: Democracy and Peace" organized by Potohar Organization for Development Advocacy (PODA) – a leading NGO working with rural women in Pakistan.  The event was attended by some 2,000 women farmers and other professionals including female parliamentarians. Dr. Nomeena Anis FAO focal person on gender and nutrition while speaking on the occasion highlighted the role of women in agriculture. FAO had also brought in about 12 female farmer beneficiaries from various districts of Sindh and Balochistan to share their experiences and to have an exposure to the world outside their villages.

FAO female project beneficiaries also exhibited and sold their hand-made items including laptop bags, cushions, rugs etc. While talking with FAO female farmer beneficiaries, Francisco Gamarro, Deputy FAO Representative to Pakistan said "the day provides an opportunity to showcase rural women's contribution in their respective areas and raise their voices to the policy makers in order to overcome the challenges faced by them especially in terms of food and nutrition security. He assured that FAO is committed to working more closely with the women to promote sustainable development in agriculture with better gender equality and empowerment".

For further information, pls contact:

Mahira Afzal
Communication Officer
UNFAO, Pakistan
+92(0)346-8544197, [email protected]