FAO pushes for gender equality in Latin American agriculture
Xinhua, July 14, 2016 Adjust font size:
Women face several levels of inequality in the agricultural sector of Latin America and the Caribbean, says a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The report tracked farmers growing cassava, quinoa, maize and cotton in Belize, Bolivia and Guatemala to understand how women get involved in the production, processing and commercialization of agricultural products.
Speaking at the launch of the report on Wednesday, FAO gender officer Caludia Brito said that "in rural areas, the contribution of women is mostly invisible although they perform a large part of the activities at farm level as well as domestic work and unpaid home care."
The report found that women participate particularly in activities that require a lot of time and physical effort, such as planting, weeding and harvesting.
The report also states that women work excessively, from 12 to 16 hours a day on average and have little access to finance, adapted technologies and tools, high level training and decision-making power.
The FAO recommends that properly handling gender issues related to agriculture can lead to greater market competitiveness, especially when women can sell their products directly to customers.
"Changing this situation would not only improve the living conditions of women but also lead to greater productivity and sustainability in agricultural systems and associated value chains," explained Brito.
According to the report, less than 40 percent of homes with women as the head of the family have their own land. Yet closing such gaps is not easy because it requires policies to help increase access to resources and services, the participation of women in agriculture and quality control. Endi