World Food Prize Side Event Women in Science and Global Agriculture: Role of Women in Improving Food Security, Promoting Development and Advancing Science “FROM TRAGEDY TO HOPE-Trading Science for Income” 17 October 2007, De Moines, IOWA Lindiwe Majele Sibanda

The African Farmer ●Land Owned -1 hectare ●Main Crops- Staples ●Yield Maize 100kg/ha ●Fertilizer used: 0.1 of recommended levels ● Agricultural Implement owned-hand hoe

MAMA TEMBU Mama Tembu is 79 years old. She is a widow, is not educated and lives in remote Temboland. In the 1960s, she was mother to 8 children, today, she is mother to 13 grand children. Seven of her children succumbed to AIDS. She derives her livelihood from a 2.2 acre plot, on which she grows vegetables and maize to provide for the family. Income is low and seasonal; periodically she receives food from Aid Agencies. This is the tragedy of many rural women in Africa. The triple tragedy of the African Matriarchs: Poverty, HIV/AIDS, and Orphan Care! These women have reached an age where in a more prosperous society, they would be the revered matriarchs enjoying a well-earned rest from a lifetime of toil. But there is no break now, AIDS has robbed society of the most productive women, and hence the grandmothers are now the sole source of hope for the next generation.

Africa- a challenging environment The dual mandate-poverty reduction and economic growth Dual economy- smallholder and large scale farmers Weak private sector (farmers and agribusiness) Suspicion and antagonism between the state and non state actors Disparity in economic status between countries Trade liberalization versus social protection Unsustainable use and inequitable access to natural resources

Challenges Women - main food producers in sub-Saharan Africa accounting for:  70% of the agricultural labour force  80% of food production in Africa  64% 0f People Living With AIDS are is sub Saharan Africa  75% of all Women Living With AIDS are in SSA Over 42 million orphans in SSA (2003), 12.1 are a result of AIDS, number projected to increase to 18.4 million by 2010 Only 15% female student enrolment at university; 18% involved in agricultural research; Rural women work 13 hours/day using rudimentary technologies for fetching water and fuel wood, cultivating fields, grinding cereals,

Women as Development Partners and not Beneficiaries INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INCOME POLICIES Health FOOD & nutrition security

 AU Program: owned by African countries  Agriculture-led growth to reach MDG1  Target goal of 6% growth rate  Increased public investment (10% budget share)  Four main pillars to guide investment  Policy efficiency, peer review, accountability  Inclusiveness: Farmers, Agribusiness, Civil Society Government MAIN FEATURES & PRINCIPLES The Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Plan (CAADP)

CAADP’s MAIN PILLARS  Land Management and Water Control  Rural Infrastructure and Access to Markets  Food Security and Reduction of Hunger  Science and Technology to Raise Productivity The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)

Monitoring and Evaluation Agenda Setting Decision Making Policy Implementation Policy Formulation Policy Processes Civil Society Donors Cabinet Parliament Ministries Private Sector Source: John Young, Networking for impact. Experience from CTA supported regional agricultural policy networks, 2007

Framework: Empowering Women for Agricultural Innovations Support professional women-women networks; reduce institutional isolation and fragmentation; promote South-North; South-South Partnerships. Strengthen capacity to use research evidence and demand effective policies Strengthen policy analysis skills to improve credibility Create communication channels between researchers, producers, markets Promote knowledge hubs (use of ICTs) at local and regional levels.

Training and Capacity Building Improve Direct Access to information Promote innovation, problem-oriented interdisciplinary research put to use Broaden women’s roles beyond production: create income security, trade, -WOMEN WANT MACRO NOT MCRO ENTRPRISES Stimulate and facilitate women’s Involvement in Policy development processes

KEY TASKS -Empowering Women 1. Set evidence-based local development targets 2. Promote interactions between civil society (women) and government in policy development ( INNOVATION SYSTEMS APPROACH) 3. Stimulate private to private partnerships between local and International Private Sector: These play a pivotal role as a connectors to agricultural value chains 4. Promote direct access to information and best practices

Wanjiku’s Dream ●Land owned -1 hectare ●Crops- staples & high value crops ●Yield -- Maize 3t/ha ●High quality seeds ●Fertilizer used: 0.7 of recommended levels ● Agricultural implements: hires a tractor, owns 2 cows, 5 goats

From TRAGEDY to Hope Good Policies can break the vicious poverty cycle and re-create a generation with hope