Women Farmers told to Diversify: FOOD SECURITY
Women farmers have been advised to grow a
variety of crops as a means of ensuring food security in their
homesteads. This advice was given during a visit by 50 women from Amuria
and Amuru districts to Katende Harambee Rural Urban Training Centre in
Namugongo, Wakiso district.
John Baptist Malinzi, the Centre’s manager, who
was one of the facilitators noted that farmers, especially women make
losses because they do not take agriculture as a business.
“If you have one crop like maize, it can easily be destroyed but if you have grown different crops on a sizeable piece of land, then issues of hunger and famine can be history.”
“If you have one crop like maize, it can easily be destroyed but if you have grown different crops on a sizeable piece of land, then issues of hunger and famine can be history.”
As a business
He advised them to engage in agricultural activities that benefit each other. “All projects at the farm should have the ability to help each other, if you have flowers in your home; make sure they are either edible or medicinal.”
The visit was organised by Forum For Women in Democracy (Fowode), a civil society organisation, which gives Ugandan women a platform to learn, network and advocate for gender equity and equality in decision making processes.
He advised them to engage in agricultural activities that benefit each other. “All projects at the farm should have the ability to help each other, if you have flowers in your home; make sure they are either edible or medicinal.”
The visit was organised by Forum For Women in Democracy (Fowode), a civil society organisation, which gives Ugandan women a platform to learn, network and advocate for gender equity and equality in decision making processes.
The women were taught how to do farming as a business and were taken through the various stages of agricultural development.
Better methods
“Our aim is to provide an opportunity to the women in different areas such that they get exposure and specific examples on particular agricultural activities they can engage and be able to replicate such activities,” said Milly Tiwangye, programmes officer, monitoring and evaluation at Fowode.
Ruth Atim, 49, a mother of seven children, said she came to learn better methods of farming “such that I can be able to share with my family and my friends back in Amuria.”
“Our aim is to provide an opportunity to the women in different areas such that they get exposure and specific examples on particular agricultural activities they can engage and be able to replicate such activities,” said Milly Tiwangye, programmes officer, monitoring and evaluation at Fowode.
Ruth Atim, 49, a mother of seven children, said she came to learn better methods of farming “such that I can be able to share with my family and my friends back in Amuria.”
Productivity
A 2014 report by The World Bank and the One Campaign revealed serious gender gaps in African agriculture with Ugandan women producing 13 per cent less compared to men on a hectare of land.
The study found that although almost half the agricultural workers across the continent are women, their productivity on the farms is significantly lower per hectare compared to men.
A 2014 report by The World Bank and the One Campaign revealed serious gender gaps in African agriculture with Ugandan women producing 13 per cent less compared to men on a hectare of land.
The study found that although almost half the agricultural workers across the continent are women, their productivity on the farms is significantly lower per hectare compared to men.
Women smallholder farmers are often constrained
by poor access to markets, limited entrepreneurial skills, lack of
control over land and other resources required for crop production and
are left with the burden of caring for many children they produce.
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