African agriculture needs manpower. Women, therefore, have their place and an their role is becoming more and more important . The campaign "We are the solution: Let's celebrate the African family farming" was launched in Dakar last week. Expected to last three years and gradually expand to other regions of the continent, the campaign is led by twelve associations of rural women in West Africa.
This forum for consultations between the regional organizations and the African producers' platforms allowed to address issues of food sovereignty in Africa: involve more women in the production and in the marketing of agricultural products, which is necessary to develop the African agriculture.
An assessment on the African agriculture
80% of the population is nourished by small producers. Despite the significant natural resources and the agricultural know-how of million rural women living and working on their family farms, the region remains heavily dependent on the outside sources for food.
This contradiction is the result of national agricultural policies, which are still insufficiently adapted, impairment in social mobilization as well as organization of farmers and agricultural producers. It also results in the inefficiently organized spaces and mechanisms for dialogue between national actors.
These issues can be addressed with policies based on food sovereignty, that is to say the right for any country or group of countries to define their agricultural policy in the interests of its people, to develop and protect its products and their markets so that they can meet the needs of a healthy sufficient diet.
Public awareness in terms of self-sustaining agriculture in Africa
On average, women represent 43% of the agricultural workforce in developing countries, this proportion reached almost 50% in Sub-Saharan Africa. Being aware of the roles and responsibilities vis-a-vis the communities they represent, the African organizations of rural women in charge of the campaign decided to respond.
Indeed, the agricultural sector in Africa is the basis for well-being of the majority of the population, regional wealth, preservation of natural resources, the future of youth, society and social peace. The continent's agricultural development may rely on the development of family farming with a strong agro-ecological connotation highlighting traditional skills and endogenous agricultural practices.
Because agriculture is the basis for promoting industrial and economic development through its various sectors including crop production, livestock, fisheries, forestry and processing of agricultural products.
Traditional farming practices and local knowledge are a solution to the agricultural and economic crises in rural areas. A solution to which women contribute by playing a role in the whole process of production, processing and agricultural marketing.
Food sovereignty cannot be achieved without strong involvement of women
According to an FAO report, if women in rural areas had the same access as men to land, technology, financial services, education and markets, it would be possible to provide food for 100 to 150 million more people in the world ...
There were an estimated 925 million of undernourished people worldwide in 2010, among which 906 million in the developing countries. This report is a powerful argument in favour of the male-female parity in agriculture.
Allowing women farmers the same access to agricultural resources as men farmers would increase the production managed by women from 20 to 30% in developing countries.
This would result in increased agricultural production in developing countries from 2.5 to 4%, which would reduce from 12 to 17% the number of undernourished people worldwide, or 100 to 150 million people.
