Women’s Role in Agriculture – Celebration of International Women’s Day by FAO Bangladesh and ERD
“The government has taken many positive steps in enhancing the livelihoods of the rural women and men. While highlighting examples like Nobel Laureate Malala, these events add value to the cause; the everyday contributions of countless numbers of women, both from rural and urban areas, to our national economy must be showcased and given due importance”, said Ms Matia Chowdhury, MP, Hon’ble Minister, Agriculture and Chief Guest at the event ‘Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step it Up for food security through production, access to employment and social protection by eradicating Gender Gap in Agriculture - Role of ERD and Development Partners’, jointly organised by FAO and Economic Relations Division (ERD), hosted at NEC-II Conference Room, ERD on 09 March 2016.
Around 150 interested stakeholders – from government, development partners, and academia – as well as a number of women farmers gathered at the ERD for International Women’s Day 2016, to celebrate the considerable accomplishments of Bangladeshi women in farming and food production, and to identify any constraints to achieving ‘Planet 50:50, by 2030’.
Opening the event, Ms Sultana Afroz, Joint Secretary, ERD said that Government of Bangladesh will always go the extra mile, through policy, planning and programmes, to reduce gender disparity in all respect of agriculture practice, and ensuring food security and nutrition.
A key note presentation was given by Mr Mike Robson, FAO Representative in Bangladesh on the gender gap, and what can be done to close it. In his remarks, the FAOR explained that women’s role in agriculture largely goes unrecognized, which hampers their ability to access new technologies and new practices. ‘Women farming may be less productive than men, but this is because women lack access to modern inputs and resources. And yet when they do have equal access to training and knowledge, we know that they are more attentive and sincere in their efforts; more curious to try new things and improve their practices’.
FAO and GoB honoured three inspiring female farmers - Ms Eliza (dairy farmer from Sirajganj), Ms Monawara (shrimp farmer from Satkira), and Ms Shipra (landless farmer from Sherpur) for their achievements on FAO projects in different parts of the country. (video link below)
During the roundtable session, moderated by Mr Mohammad Mejbahuddin, Senior Secretary, ERD, the timely demand of good governance, setting forward the priorities and document the progress in upcoming CEDAW report (the UN Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination against Women), key roles of sex-disaggregated data in closing gender gaps, government guidelines mainstreaming gender in development planning, contribution of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics to better gender analysis, the placement of gender focal points at different levels of government etc. were also discussed.
Christine Hunter, UN Women Bangladesh, said that the multi sectoral approach is essential to delivering on the SDGs for gender equality and in other areas. Farah Kabir, Action Aid Bangladesh, said that the probability of further extension of gender gap and aggravation of existing vulnerabilities and resilience of women as well as men due to climate change and environmental degradation must be addressed at the national level.
In her closing remarks, Ms Ismat Ara Sadique, MP, Hon’ble State Minister of Public Administration, and the Special Guest of the event stated the importance of keeping the gender balance in the Bangladesh Civil Service, particularly in the top ranked positions, that can reflect the gender ratio of actual population of Bangladesh.
Useful Links
Coverage in the media Link - http://www.thedailystar.net/city/matia-lauds-hasinas-steps-womens-empowerment-788950