Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development has called on government to empower rural women as they still face challenges in accessing markets, capital and appropriate technology.
Addressing the media today in Harare on the International Day of Rural Women, Women Affairs Minister Sithembiso Nyoni said rural women should be empowered to stand up and take their rightful places in all sectors of the economy.
“Our rural women produce goods for both the domestic and export markets. They provide labor on farms, work as vendors and with support from government some have established SMEs and large corporates,
“Women particularly in the rural areas, however, still face challenges in accessing working capital, markets, appropriate technology and they frequently face discrimination and gender based violence,
“Rural women lack access to basic services such as education, health and housing. Good quality housing, clean drinking water and sanitation facilities are also not adequately provided for,” explained Nyoni.
She added that her ministry has committed this year’s commemorations to promoting the cultivation of small grains.
Due to the adverse effects of climate change, agriculture has suffered the most, hence government’s focus to empower rural women to sustain the national economy.
“Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa committed the Government to raising the status of women particularly in rural areas by scaling up targeted agriculture financing for maize and small grains, wheat, tobacco, cotton, livestock, fisheries production and wildlife conservation under the command agricultural programmes,
“I therefore call on all stakeholders in the small grains industry to join hands with government in supporting this lucrative endeavor which does not only contribute to food security but also enhances the national status levels,” added Nyoni.
The theme for this year’s celebrations is ‘Challenges and opportunities in climate-resilient agriculture for gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls’ which will be held in Mashonaland Central, Mbire District at Mandeza Primary School on a date to be advised.
