Origins - World Rural Women's Day

« Biodiversity for Food Security: Women Farmers are ready! »
MESSAGE BY KAREN SERRES
CHAIRPERSON OF THE COMMITTEE ON WOMEN FARMERS
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS

The life of Humans on this planet depends on their capacity to find an abundant supply of healthy and nourishing food. Women farmers play a leading role in this field because they alone account for 50% of the world food production, and up to 80% in developing countries, despite the difficult conditions under which they exercise their agricultural activities. Women farmers therefore make a significant contribution to food security in the world.

On the World Rural Women’s Day, the IFAP Committee on Women Farmers wishes to stress the fact that women farmers are on the front line when it comes to preserving the diversity of crops, animal breeding and the wealth of the environment. Similarly, they are central to implementing good agricultural practices while carrying out their daily work. Women farmers are fully aware that respecting biological diversity contributes to the equilibrium of ecosystems and long-term food security for the population worldwide.

Biodiversity can also be perceived as maintaining the diversity of agricultural producers - en as well as women - and farms. If we give diversity its rightful place, we will have better chances of succeeding in our mission to feed all human beings in a dignified manner. Whatever the policies and plans drawn up to protect biodiversity, women farmers must be taken into consideration as players who are able to exert considerable influence. Women farmers are, in fact, already prepared to face the important challenge of protecting biodiversity all over the world!

It has become urgent for women farmers to have access to the appropriate tools that would enable them to modernise their farming methods in order to produce more efficiently and under the best conditions. Access to new production techniques, scientific knowledge and training is crucial to guarantee a positive development for these workers of the land. National and international funds are required if women farmers in certain regions of the world are to improve their means of production. In the present context, the responsibilities are shared between producers and political leaders, but what role should be assigned to women farmers? Can we sit back and allow the future of 80% of the food production in developing countries to be mortgaged?

We have confidence in the good sense of our governments regarding our common interests, and the 15th of October will be an opportune moment to initiate action and take the steps necessary for the food security of the world. United in our diversity, We women farmers will ensure a better future for the generations to come.



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*Origin* *Events* *Archive* *Proclamations*	World Rural Women's Day 2004 « Biodiversity for Food Security: Women Farmers are ready! » MESSAGE BY KAREN SERRES CHAIRPERSON OF THE COMMITTEE ON WOMEN FARMERS INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS The life of Humans on this planet depends on their capacity to find an abundant supply of healthy and nourishing food. Women farmers play a leading role in this field because they alone account for 50% of the world food production, and up to 80% in developing countries, despite the difficult conditions under which they exercise their agricultural activities. Women farmers therefore make a significant contribution to food security in the world. On the World Rural Women’s Day, the IFAP Committee on Women Farmers wishes to stress the fact that women farmers are on the front line when it comes to preserving the diversity of crops, animal breeding and the wealth of the environment. Similarly, they are central to implementing good agricultural practices while carrying out their daily work. Women farmers are fully aware that respecting biological diversity contributes to the equilibrium of ecosystems and long-term food security for the population worldwide. Biodiversity can also be perceived as maintaining the diversity of agricultural producers - en as well as women - and farms. If we give diversity its rightful place, we will have better chances of succeeding in our mission to feed all human beings in a dignified manner. Whatever the policies and plans drawn up to protect biodiversity, women farmers must be taken into consideration as players who are able to exert considerable influence. Women farmers are, in fact, already prepared to face the important challenge of protecting biodiversity all over the world! It has become urgent for women farmers to have access to the appropriate tools that would enable them to modernise their farming methods in order to produce more efficiently and under the best conditions. Access to new production techniques, scientific knowledge and training is crucial to guarantee a positive development for these workers of the land. National and international funds are required if women farmers in certain regions of the world are to improve their means of production. In the present context, the responsibilities are shared between producers and political leaders, but what role should be assigned to women farmers? Can we sit back and allow the future of 80% of the food production in developing countries to be mortgaged? We have confidence in the good sense of our governments regarding our common interests, and the 15th of October will be an opportune moment to initiate action and take the steps necessary for the food security of the world. United in our diversity, We women farmers will ensure a better future for the generations to come.