3-Women and food sovereignty
Women continue to play a major role in providing the food security to households. Their role in agriculture has become all the more important as farming is increasingly becoming a responsibility of women to feed their households. Farming is once again in the hands of women, though not with recognition and respect to them, but as the only means of survival for the households.
Nevertheless, women left with degraded resources, are finding ways of making a sustainable living on these lands. In this issue we have compiled a few articles which reflect the fact that women are primary providers of food security as well as nutritional security to the communities.
Table of contents:
-
2 - 3
-
4 - 5
-
6 - 9written by Michel PimbertMost of the world’s food is grown, collected and harvested by over 2.5 billion small-scale farmers, pastoralists, forest dwellers and fisherfolk – more than half of whom are women. Women’s knowledge and labour play a key role in sustaining the many diverse, local food systems that still exist today throughout the world, particularly in developing countries.
-
10 - 12written by P.V. SatheeshBy gaining critical control over seeds rural women have recovered traditional landraces and biodiversity in agriculture. Initiatives such as Alternative PDS and Food Sovereignty Trust by Deccan Development Society have not only ensured heightened access to food and nutrition but have also empowered women by strengthening their leadership abilities.
-
13 - 14written by Dr.Veena Vidyadharan , Dr. Manoj Kumar TiwariTribal communities of Baran district have been able to regain their food sovereignty by preserving local seeds. The women groups have revived their traditional seed storage techniques to preserve seeds in the seed banks. Seed banks have provided assured access to seeds even during the times of drought.
-
15 - 16written by Nico Bakker , Félix Zenén Martínez MendozaIn parts of Mozambique, seed fairs have become an important tool for improving family farming and food sovereignty. The concept is simple: create a space for small farmers from different regions to come together to exchange seeds. Gaining access to (diverse) genetic material allows for new opportunities and ideas for reducing risk and increasing productivity on farms. But seed fairs also offer a way to value and strengthen farmers’ knowledge and local culture, as well as strengthening farmers’ movements. An inspiration to others to set up their own seed fairs!
-
18 - 20written by Shen Shicai , Qian JieWomen play an essential role in animal production in the rural northwestern region of Yunnan province, China. However, women are often left out of extension activities and training opportunities. A recent project has found various ways to better target women farmers. By increasing their participation, as well as the professional training of women field workers, risks in livestock production were reduced and household economies improved. Women farmers also became more confident and aware of their rights as decision-makers on the farm.
-
21 - 23written by Naresh Jadav , Pallavi Sobti-RajpalUnderstanding the issues and perspectives of the community, giving voice to their ideas and facilitating institutional building are key in bringing about a sustainable and equitable change. Bringing a ‘positive change in gender and power relations’ remained central to the efforts made by Utthan in influencing change.
-
25 - 26written by G.S. Unnikrishnan NairMushroom production is an untapped potential source of employment and income in Kerala. Janaki who has established herself as an enterprising entrepreneur in mushroom production is now a role model for several unemployed youth.
-
27 - 29written by Francisco Dueñas Hurtado , Dagmara Plana Ramos , Isis Salcines , Bárbara Benítez , Laura R. Medina , María E. DominiThe potential of urban agriculture for feeding a growing population is becoming increasingly visible. In Cuba, “urban farms” contribute to a large extent to the island’s food selfsufficiency. As in all food production systems, women play a very important role in urban agriculture. Recognising this role and the overall contribution of women, makes for even better results.
-
30 - 31written by Jignasa Pandya , Neeruben SenmaA cooperative of landless women in Gujarat are making a successful living through collective farming. By converting their village into an eco tourism centre, they are conserving and promoting local cultures and cuisine.
-
32 - 33written by Laeticia JalilThe concept of food sovereignty gives visibility and recognition to the role of women in producing food and other agricultural goods. Getting food sovereignty onto the political agenda is very much related to the issue of women’s rights, particularly those of rural women. By organising political campaigns, the Brazilian Women Farmers’ Movement (Movimento de Mulheres Camponesas – MMC) is attempting to do just that. And in doing so, they demonstrate the important role of women farmers.
-
34 - 34written by L. Narayana ReddyEven during the days when men used to go to the forests hunting animals and collecting tubers and fruits, women used to grow tubers and food crops in their backyards. So the women were the first to grow crops.
-
35 - 35
-
36 - 36
-
37 - 37
-
38 - 38Code of conduct needed to protect small-scale farmers from “land grabs”
-
39 - 40written by Biswamohan Mohanty‘Seed mothers’ of Orissa have played a crucial role in the revival of millet based farming systems. Being store houses of knowledge on local seeds and biodiversity, they have been instrumental in identifying, conserving and spreading local and traditional seed varieties.
Print this