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15 October – World Rural Women’s Day


Women Farmers request a greater

access to land and water


Paris, 15 October 2003 – “National and international political commitment is essential in order to ensure both the equitable and sustainable allocation of natural resources and the recognition of women farmers as professionals within the agricultural world”; this is the message addressed to public authorities and international decision makers for World Rural Women’s Day 2003. The Chair of the Standing Committee on Women in Agriculture of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP), Mrs. Victoria Kakoko Sebagereka, demands concrete recognition of women farmers as main custodians of their environment.

As Mrs. Kakoko Sebagereka declared, “it is high time that women farmers are guaranteed long-term access to, and control of, land and water resources. This way, the precious human resource they represent for the agricultural sector, for sustainable development and for conservation of the environment, can then be optimised.” Mrs. Kakoko Sebagereka stresses that the number of farms managed by women is constantly increasing. Farmers’ wives find themselves with the responsibility for managing the farm, in addition to their family responsibilities. As farm managers, these women claim the same rights of access to resources as their male counterparts.

Guaranteeing rights of access to land and water often leads to more efficient and appropriate farming practises. It also facilitates access to credit when that credit needs to be guaranteed with property as collateral. An engine of progress then comes into play: access to and control of land and water and the right to credit opens the way to increased productivity and sustainable agricultural development.

Under the theme “Towards greater access to land and water,” this 2003 worldwide event is intended to build awareness among the population and governments around the world of the realities of everyday life of women farmers and of the absolute necessity of supporting them in their activities.

Some statistics: According to FAO estimates, women produce more than 50% of the food grown worldwide. This includes up to 80% of food produced by women in African countries, 60% in Asia and between 30 and 40% in South America.

Note : The World Rural Women’s Day 2003 IFAP Standing Committee on Women in Agriculture President’s Open letter and the Recommendations are available at: http://www.rural-womens-day.org/

Brochure

Julie Emond

Communications Coordinator


E-mail: julie.emond@ifap.org 

Phone:+33 1 45 26 05 53            Fax: +33 1 48 74 72 12

Vision and Mission

IFAP is the world farmers’ organisation representing over 500 million farm families grouped in 100 national organisations in 70 countries. 

It is a global network in which farmers from industrialised and developing countries exchange concerns and set common priorities.

IFAP advocates farmers’ interests at the international level since 1946 and has General Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.