GENDER, AGRICULTURE AND RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA BY RUVIMBO MABEZA-CHIMEDZA

OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION INTRODUCTION; STATISTICS SHOWING AFRICAN WOMEN’S CONTRIBUTION TO AGRICULTURE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPRODUCTIVE WORK CONSTRAINTS FACING WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE THREE BRIEF CASE STUDIES ON SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES FACING WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE KEY ISSUES EMERGING

AFRICAN WOMEN’S CONTRIBUTION TO AGRICULTURE RESPONSIBLE FOR HOUSEHOLD FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY 90% OF THE HOEING AND WEEDING IN FOOD PRODUCTION 80% OF THE WORK ON FOOD STORAGE AND TRANSPORT MORE THAN 90% OF POST HARVEST MANAGEMENT INCLUDING FOOD PROCESSING, PROVIDING WATER AND ENERGY MORE THAN 60% OF HARVESTING AND MARKETING

WOMEN’S CONTRIBUTION TO REPRODUCTIVE WORK A STUDY IN ZAMBIA FOUND THAT WOMEN SPENT 43% OF AVAILABLE TIME IN PRODUCTIVE WORK WHILE MEN SPENT 12-13% IN ZIMBABWE WOMEN FETCH FUEL WOOD FOR COOKING AND SPACE HEATING IN 80% OF THE HOUSEHOLDS THAT USE FUEL WOOD WOMEN FETCH POTABLE WATER FOR DOMESTIC USE IN 83% OF THE HOUSEHOLDS WOMEN CARE FOR CHILDREN AND THE SICK THEY ALSO CONTRIBUTE LABOUR AT FUNERALS, WEDDING AND OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS

WOMEN’S CONSTRAINTS TO ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT TIME POVERTY; WOMEN HAVE COMPETING DEMANDS ON THEIR TIME DUE TO THEIR PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES LIMITED ACCESS TO PRODUCTIVE RESOURCES; A STUDY IN CAMEROON SHOWED THAT LESS THAN 10% OF REGISTERED LAND TITLES WERE UNDER WOMEN. LACK OF ACCESS TO FINANCIAL SERVICES; WOMEN ACCESS LESS THAN 10% OF CREDIT TO SMALLHOLDER AGRICULTURAL AND LESS THAN 1% OF CREDIT TO AGRICULTURE IN SUB- SAHARAN AFRICA LACK OF ACCESS TO MARKETS

CASE 1: SEED BANK INITIATIVE IN KIRUNDO PROVINCE BURUNDI MARSHLAND RECLAMATION TECHNIQUES INTRODUCED WIDE RANGE OF NEW CROPS INTRODUCED SEED PRODUCTION PROMOTED TRAINING IN SEED SELECTION ORGANISATION OF SEED FAIRS IN COMMUNITIES LINKING FARMERS WITH PRIVATE SECTOR SEED SUPPLIERS

IRRIGATION SCHEMES REHABILITATION PROJECT IN MASVINGO, ZIMBABWE REHABILITATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF SMALLHOLDER IRRIGATION SCHEMES ESTABLISHING PRODUCER ASSOCIATIONS PROVISION OF LOANS FOR INPUTS ESTABLISHING PROCESSING AND PACKAGING CENTRES FOR PEANUT BUTTER, BROWN RICE AND SMALL GRAINS LINKING ASSOCIATIONS AND NEGOTIATING CONTRACTS WITH SUPERMARKET CHAINS FOR SUPPLY OF PEANUT BUTTER, BROWN RICE AND SMALL GRAIN MEAL

HIV/AIDS FAMILY CARE PROJECT ESTABLISHING A VOLUNTEER NETWORK FOR HOME BASED CARE TRAINING VOLUNTEERS IN CONSERVATION FARMING PROVISION OF FENCING MATERIALS TO SET UP HERB GARDENS NEAR WATER POINTS TRAINING IN HERB PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING FOR MEDICINAL USE ESTABLISHING LOCAL DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS LINKING PRODUCERS WITH RELEVANT ORGANISATIONS FOR MARKETS

ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED GENDER PLANNING IN INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMMES IS IMPORTANT IMPROVE WOMEN’S ACCESS TO PRODUCTIVE RESOURCE; INPUT CREDIT, SECURE LAND AND WATER RIGHTS FACILITATE FORMATION OF PRODUCTION CLUSTERS OR ASSOCIATIONS EXPAND IRRIGATION AGRICULTURE AND INCREASE WOMEN’S ACCESS INCREASE ACCESS TO IMPROVED POST-HARVEST TECHNOLOGIES AND PRACTICES BETTER TRANSPORT AND STORAGE LINK WOMEN FARMERS TO HIGH VALUE CHAINS