“It is actually a fundamental socio-economic resource for them but they don’t get direct rights to the land.
“They have secondary users’ rights, especially smallholder farmers because land, particularly, in Southern Africa, is vested in either the presidency or the state.
“For instance, since 1980, Zimbabwe has been going through a land reform programme, trying to redress the colonial legacy of the land ownership,’’ she said.
Observers, nonetheless, insist that hindered women’s right to land ownership is just an aspect that affects agricultural activities among women.
They note that there are other factors that inhibit agricultural development among the rural women farmers such as poor markets, use of indigenous agricultural technologies and extraneous hurdles in accessing loans, among others.
In addressing these challenges, the African Union Commission (AUC), called on all African countries to increase funding and capacity for women farmers to fight hunger in African nations.
Ms Anna Makundi, the Coordinator, Africa Seed and Biotechnology, AUC Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the call was necessary in view of the growing population in the continent.
“The need to promote investments in smallholder women famers is very important not only for the women farmers, but for the entire continent.
“Research findings show that the population in Africa is growing by 50 per cent faster than the gains in food productivity.
“If we don’t take practical actions now, food deficit is projected to increase to 60 million tonnes and 14 billion dollars by 2020.
“If we invest in women farmers for improved agriculture productivity, we will address poverty and malnutrition effectively,’’ she said.
She expressed concern about lack of exposure of women farmers to new machinery and technologies, noting that men had access to modern agriculture tools than women because they (women) had financial constraints.
She, therefore, urged all African counties to listen to the needs of rural women and introduce reasonable, practicable and sustainable programmes to boost agricultural activities at the grassroots.
She suggested the need to remove barriers to the empowerment and progress of women in general, including rights of inheritance and rights to own land.
All in all, participants at the forum agreed that if women were empowered and given access to land, it would address gender inequality, improve household welfare and agricultural productivity. (NANFeatures)
