Women in Rural Areas By Prof. Magdy Madkour ALARI, Ain Shams University, Egypt ALARI, Ain Shams University, Egypt Senior Advisor, Bibliotheca Alexandrina Senior Advisor, Bibliotheca Alexandrina Supervisor, AGERI, ARC-Egypt Supervisor, AGERI, ARC-Egypt

Women are a great human asset for any country and their role in society is critical for development. Women are a great human asset for any country and their role in society is critical for development. Women represent 18.6% of the total labor force in Egypt. “2.8 million” Women represent 18.6% of the total labor force in Egypt. “2.8 million” Rural Women constitute 65% of the total number of women in Egypt, and provide 51% or more of the Agriculture Labor Force. Rural Women constitute 65% of the total number of women in Egypt, and provide 51% or more of the Agriculture Labor Force.

Women share with men most of the agricultural duties and labor either inside or outside the house, and they play a pivotal role in: Child Education, nutrition and health, Child Education, nutrition and health, Family Planning, Family Planning, Animal and Poultry production, Animal and Poultry production, Food and Dairy processing, Food and Dairy processing, Crop production, marketing and sales, Crop production, marketing and sales, Different agricultural practices Different agricultural practices (Seeding – Weeding – Fertilizing) (Seeding – Weeding – Fertilizing)

Age Category % Women Labor Total and above 2.0 Distribution of Women Labor Force in Egypt by AGE

Educational Level % Women Labor Illiterate55 Read and/or Write 11 Up to High School 27 University Degree 6.4 Distribution of Women Labor Force in Egypt by EDUCATIONAL LEVEL

Job Category % Women Labor Agriculture Labor, Farming, Fishing 71.3 Science Related Jobs 10.1 Technical Jobs 3.1 Office/Clerical Jobs 6.9 Distribution of Women Labor Force in Egypt by JOB CATEGORY

15.1% of FAMILIES IN EGYPT are supported exclusively by women labor in RURAL and URBAN communities. 15.1% of FAMILIES IN EGYPT are supported exclusively by women labor in RURAL and URBAN communities. However, 82% of those families are present in URBAN areas, and are usually families small in number and are lead by widowed mothers. However, 82% of those families are present in URBAN areas, and are usually families small in number and are lead by widowed mothers.

In RURAL AREAS, women are not usually empowered to manage the agricultural land they INHERITED, and therefore the land is rented to the closest MALE relative. In RURAL AREAS, women are not usually empowered to manage the agricultural land they INHERITED, and therefore the land is rented to the closest MALE relative. (Ownership of agricultural land by women amounts to 5.3%)

Role of Women in Rural Extension A number of obstacles hinders the performance of Female Extension Workers (FEW) in Rural societies including: Inadequate planning, implementation and evaluation of training programs. Inadequate planning, implementation and evaluation of training programs. Lack of knowledge and skills for information dissemination. Lack of knowledge and skills for information dissemination. Lack of communication skills. Lack of communication skills.

IF properly empowered, Female Extension Workers (FEW) could: Play a vital role in the economic development of Rural Communities by creating employment/job opportunities and by empowering Rural women who form the backbone of agricultural labor force in Egypt.

Thank You