FAO in Afghanistan

The Second National Conference on Women Empowerment in Agriculture

10/02/2018

Kabul – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)  and the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) convened the 2nd National Conference on Women Empowerment in Agriculture. The conference was attended by high ranking officials, Her Excellency, the First Lady, Ms. Rula Ghani, His Excellency Nasir Ahmad Durrani, Minister for Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL), Her Excellency, Ms. Delbar Nazari, Minister for Women Affairs, Mr. Tomio Shichiri Representative and Country Director for Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The ceremony started with the opening remarks by His Excellency Nasir Ahmad Durrani, Minister for Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL), “Women has significant role in the economic growth of the country. MAIL has facilitated women with the essential agricultural facilities in different provinces.”

After Mr Durrani’s remarks, Her Excellency the First Lady, Ms Rula Ghani addressed the audience, “Afghan women have an important role in the country’s economy because more than 60 percent of them work in the field of agriculture. Women who work in the agriculture sector, legal documents should be provided for them so they can participate in larger transactions.”

“Despite several challenges, women’s lives in the past 15 years have significantly improved in Afghanistan. Now they have active participation in both agricultural and industrial sectors; which does not only add up to the local economy but also improves the country’s economy at the national level,” added by the First Lady. 

Her Excellency, Delbar Nazari, Minister for Women Affairs said, “Empowering women in the agriculture sector is an effective way. This will pave the way for sustainable employment and it will solve women’s unemployment problem in the countryside and eventually, it will make them self-sufficient and financially independent.”  

Mr Tomio Shichiri, FAO Representative also emphasized on the essential contribution of women throughout the agricultural value chain, from production on the family plot, to food preparation, to distribution within the household and beyond.  However, their roles are generally undervalued and constrained by limitations on their access to resources, services, and labor market opportunities based on social norms. The ceremony followed by Ms Nazira Rahman, Home Economy Director’s technical presentation about MAIL’s initiatives for the development of women farmers. 

At the end, Ms Shafiqa Wahidi a successful model woman farmer delivered a speech and explained her life achievements through agriculture production. Ms Wahidi is an Afghan model farmer who attended the World Food Day 2017’s observance and received award from Her Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand.

At the end, HE the First Lady, acknowledged the successes of the model farmer by awarding her with the certificate of appreciation.