REVITALIZING AFRICAN AGRICULTURE: THE ROLE OF GENDER DYNAMICS IN AFRICAN AGRICULTURE

Gender dynamics in African agriculture play a crucial role in shaping the sector and its outcomes.

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According to a report by the World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), women in sub-Saharan Africa produce up to 80% of foodstuffs for household consumption and sale in local markets.

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Crops such as rice, wheat, and maize, which make up about 90% of the food consumed by rural dwellers, are mostly sown by women, who mostly sow the seeds, do the weeding, cultivate and harvest the crops, and sell surpluses. https://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/special-edition-agriculture-

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Women make up a significant portion of the agricultural workforce in Africa, yet they often face numerous challenges and barriers that limit their full participation and potential in the sector.

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A large share of rural women's work continues to be in primary production, and research continues to focus on this node. But the midstream of value chains is crucial for rural transformation.

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Globally, food processing, trading, and services are estimated to provide an average of 11–12% of women's and men's employment and over 20% of total employment in many countries in Africa. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211912423000512

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In 2023, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that globally, women comprise around half of all workers in food processing and services and 40% of workers in the manufacture of non-food agricultural products.?https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211912423000512

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These numbers do not take into account the?roles women?play in food preparation and processing for home consumption.

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One of the key issues facing women in African agriculture is access to land and other productive resources.

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In many African countries, women have limited rights to land ownership and control, which hinders their ability to fully engage in agricultural activities. This lack of access to land also limits women's ability to invest in their farms and improve their productivity.

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Additionally, women in African agriculture often face discrimination and unequal treatment in terms of access to credit, extension services, and markets. This limits their ability to expand their businesses and improve their livelihoods. Gender norms and stereotypes also play a role in shaping women's roles in agriculture, with women often being relegated to less profitable and lower-status activities within the sector.

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Efforts to address these gender dynamics in African agriculture are crucial for promoting gender equality and improving agricultural productivity and food security.

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This includes implementing policies and programs that promote women's access to land, credit, and other productive resources, as well as addressing gender norms and stereotypes that limit women's participation in the sector.

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By addressing these gender dynamics and promoting women's empowerment in African agriculture, we can create a more inclusive and sustainable agricultural sector that benefits both women and men and contributes to overall economic development and food security in the region.

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