Harare, (New Ziana) – The El Niño-induced drought in last farming season impacted rural women more as they are disproportionately affected by climate-related disasters, leading to their increased vulnerability, the Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) has said.
In a statement to mark the International Day of Rural Women which falls on October 15, ZGC chairperson, Margaret Mukahanana Sangarwe said due to crop failures and livestock losses, rural women are exposed to severe food insecurity and malnutrition in their households.
“Women, often responsible for fetching water and firewood, experience increased workloads and reduced opportunities for education and income generation. “The economic stress induced by drought also heightens the risk of gender-based violence, further jeopardizing the well-being of women and their families,” she said.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), she said, approximately 80 percent of women in communal areas make up 61 percent of the farming community, and contribute 70 percent of agricultural labour.
However, she noted that many are classified as unpaid family workers, dedicating 16 to 18 hours a day with 49 percent to agricultural activities and 25 percent to domestic responsibilities.
“Despite constitutional recognition of gender equality and non-discrimination in Section 56, women face systemic barriers limiting their voices, choices and control over their destiny. This manifests in unequal access to, control over and ownership of resources,” she said.
Women, often responsible for fetching water and firewood, experience increased workloads and reduced opportunities for education and income generation, said Mukahanana Sangarwe.
She said the economic stress induced by drought also heightens the risk of gender-based violence, further jeopardizing the well-being of women and their families. She said insecure land tenure for women was also an issue of concern, preventing many living in rural areas from owning the land they farm, thus hindering their ability to invest in improvements and access credit.
“Limited access to agricultural inputs such as seeds and fertilizers, along with discrimination in agricultural extension services, further impedes their productivity and adaptability to climate change,” she said.
As the nation commemorates International Day of Rural Women, Mukahanana Sangarwe said ZGC was calling upon the government and relevant stakeholders to take immediate action to implement gender-sensitive policies that promote women’s rights to land and other resources, ensure equitable access to agricultural inputs and training for women and facilitate women’s participation in decision-making processes at all levels.
ZGC is also calling upon Government and other stakeholders to address the impacts of climate change on livelihoods of women living in rural areas through targeted support and resources as well as raise awareness about the link between economic stress and gender-based violence, providing support services for affected women.
“Empowering rural women is essential for achieving our national goals of food security and gender equality. As we work toward Sustainable Development Goals 2 (Zero Hunger) and 5 (Gender Equality and Women Empowerment), let us recognize that women living in rural areas are key to rebuilding our food systems and fostering resilient communities,” she said. This year’s International Day of rural Women is being celebrated under the theme, “Rural Women Cultivating Good Food for All.”
New Ziana
