FAO report details gender inequalities in rural Georgia
Breeding livestock, producing crops and household goods, fetching water and firewood, housework, cooking for family, looking after children, caring for the elderly and sick members of the family – this is the short list of rural women’s obligations in Georgia.
However, the contribution of women to agricultural production remains invisible and under-recognized, according to a report released this week by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), supported by the European Union and the Austrian Government.
Rural women rarely see themselves as farmers, because most of the work they perform is considered part of their family responsibilities. Further increasing women’s workload and time burden are poor countryside infrastructure, the low level of housing, and limited access to transport and modern energy supplies.
The FAO report Gender, agriculture and rural development in Georgia explores existing gender inequalities in agriculture and their underlying causes, along with impacts on economic and social development in rural areas and on food security and nutrition. The report highlights the challenges, gaps and practices that need to be considered by policymakers and project managers in Georgia.