Agriculture and our Future

Women: the key to food security

Fahmida HashemFood security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Food security encompasses many issues ranging from food production and distribution to food preferences and health status of individuals.Recent research conducted by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) confirms the central role women play as producers of food, managers of natural resources, income earners, and caretakers of household food and nutrition security.A whole new set of government projects has taken innovative approaches to improving women's roles as gatekeepers of food security. Experiences from the past 15 years suggest that mainstream gender-sensitive projects are the best way to meet women's needs and improve their socioeconomic status.Women, who were once shy and submissive, are now confident and articulate. This transformation from "ultra-poor woman" to successful entrepreneur, and then politician, is an astounding achievement.Women's Empowerment as a Tool Against Hunger takes an in-depth look at women's role in food production, nutrition, and access to food in the region, and the steps needed to remove the barriers facing them (The report, Gender Equality and Food Security). Bangladeshi women have a key role in their families' food security. Information campaigns targeting female farmers could lead to reduced poverty and increased food security.Improving education for women could dramatically reduce hunger in developing countries. In anticipation of the Women Deliver 2013 Conference, Food Tank is recommending five ways to invest in women and girls through food and agriculture: Supporting girls' access to education and success in school, Teaching women sustainable farming practices, Giving women control of their health choices, Addressing violence against women, Providing credit to women in agriculture.Legal, social, and cultural institutions must be changed to create an environment in which women can realise their full potential. Food security strategies must also be developed to improve women's access to childcare, farmer support mechanisms, and social systems will be redesigned - for women, by women - to deliver support with the greatest multiplier effects.The UN report says education of women is "the single most important determinant" of food security. It says a 43% reduction in hunger in developing countries can be attributed to progress in educating women, compared to 26% for better access to food."Closing the gender gap and ensuring equal access of women to resources and assets is indispensable for accelerating agricultural and rural development and poverty alleviation," the FAO report says.Women must also be included alongside men in the design of agricultural and food programmes because women are not a homogeneous group. Involving more women in development processes may require special outreach and training for poorer and less educated women and for those who hesitate to voice their needs in front of men for cultural reasons.Women play important roles as producers of food, managers of natural resources, income earners, and caretakers of household food and nutrition security. In many countries, increasing assets that women control also has a positive impact on the next generation, particularly on education and health.Food security and anti-poverty strategies must be transformative and make the redistribution of roles between women and men a priority. This is the only way to make sure that the social investment intended to sustain the poor does not sustain the gender divisions that characterise poverty and keep it locked in place.Women need to be empowered to make their own choices and respond to increasing economic opportunities. Investing in the human capital women offer is a key to sustainable and gender-sensitive food policy.There is still much progress to be made - progress that could finally help to achieve global food security. Improving women's access to education, health and economic resources will lead to better food security for not only women and children, but for the whole world. http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/index.php?ref=MjBfMTBfMTlfMTNfMV85OV8xODcxMTI=