Women equipped to revolutionise agriculture amid challenges

Empowering women and youth is critical to revolutionise agriculture and achieve sustainable food production in the current climate conditions, Director for Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme EX Pillar 4 (CAADP-XP4) Programme, Dr Baitse Podisi, has said.

Officially opening the three-day Women and Youth Knowledge Sharing and Exchange Symposium in Kasane on Tuesday, Dr Baitse Podisi said the symposium is a crucial milestone in empowering women and youth in agriculture, enabling them to become more resilient and productive amidst the challenges posed by climate change.

“Women, often the backbone of agricultural labour in developing regions, bring invaluable knowledge and skills essential for adapting agricultural practices to changing environmental conditions.”

Podisi said in the implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme EX Pillar 4 (CAADPXP4) Programme on Gender, most regional countries are committed to ensuring that agriculture remains a cornerstone of their economies and social fabric, particularly through the inclusion of women and youth.

“Our regional policies and programmes are tailored to harness the potential of these vital demographic groups by providing them with the necessary tools, training, and resources to succeed in agriculture.”

The event was organised by Centre for Coordination on Agriculture Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA) in partnership with Botswana Farmers Association (BOFA).

Through the discussions farmers will investigate opportunities in emerging sectors like apiculture and aquaculture. The discussions are geared towards equipping women and youth with the tools they need to transform their communities and the continent.

Dr Podisi said while SADC member states develop different funding and youth empowerment schemes to support engagement in agriculture it is still not enough given the high level of unemployment in the region especially among the youth.

“Our regional policies and programmes are tailored to harness the potential of these vital demographic groups by providing them with the necessary tools, training, and resources to succeed in agriculture.”

He highlighted that through the collaboration of multiple stakeholders CCARDESA seeks to advance sustainable development and innovation in Africa's agricultural sector.

“Our medium and long-term strategies prioritise the inclusion of women and youth in agricultural development including people living with disabilities therefore we have dedicated a theme on women, youth and social inclusion.”

CCARDESA recently developed a gender and social inclusion policy to guide efforts of mainstreaming gender and social inclusion in its programmes and to influence stakeholders.

CCARDESA is a subsidiary of the SADC Secretariat, created by SADC Member States in 2010 and entrusted with coordinating regional cooperation on agricultural research and development.