Women Feed the World

In traditional societies women farmers carry a major responsibility for food security at household and community level. In Africa alone they produce, process and store almost 80 per cent of the food that families consume. More recently, changes in food production and distribution have fundamentally affected women's role in agriculture. Environmental degradation, increased emphasis on cash crop production and male migration to the towns have led to greater rural poverty and the feminisation of farming.

Over the past two decades there has been a deterioration in the social and economic situation of women farmers in developing countries. Positive steps to support women's advancement lie in "women in development" training which focuses on skills development and income-generation.

Success can be achieved through organization and the development of local leadership and capacity-building. If food security is to be assured, traditionally marginalised women farmers must be fully integrated into the mainstream of production to ensure agricultural sustainability. With the ACWW/UNESCO co-action programme "Women Feed the World", women are being helped to improve subsistence food production through progressive farming techniques, resulting in better nutrition and health for the rural community.

BEEKEEPING
The Bugiri district of Uganda is a poor region of dirt roads and mud tracks, devoid of amenities like electricity and running water. ACWW is supporting a progressive beekeeping project involving several women's groups who hope to sell honey to raise funds for the construction of a maternity centre. The honey will be used for home consumption and will also boost new initiatives such as mushroom growing and rice cultivation.

DAIRY & POULTRY CO-OPERATIVE
Working through a member society in the villages of southern India, ACWW is trying to improve the nutritional status of underprivileged families. Help has been given to set up a milk co-operative and poultry scheme run by women who receive loans to purchase dairy cows and chickens. The backyard poultry scheme is very popular as small units can easily be installed and family income is generated through the sale of the dairy products.

GARDENING PROJECT
Women farmers in the Gambia are becoming increasingly successful, thanks to funding from ACWW which has helped a member society to establish a number of gardening cooperatives for rural women. Lack of essential seeds, fertilizers and vital tools have prevented the expansion of food production. Now, training in simple farming techniques and credit facilities have promoted a number of profitable farming enterprises.

CEREAL PROCESSING
In Kenya women farmers are the principal producers of staple food crops such as maize. ACWW funds have provided the Idavaga Women's Group with posho mill that gives women in the vicinity access to cereal grinding facilities and reduces the time and money spent on travel to commercial milling outlets.