IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 584 

Recognizing the International Day of Rural Women on October 15, 2017, 

in celebration of women farmers around the world. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 24, 2017 

Ms. KAPTUR (for herself, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. WELCH, Ms. DELAURO, Mr. 

EVANS, Mr. KHANNA, Ms. NORTON, and Ms. PINGREE) submitted the 

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the International Day of Rural Women on October 15, 2017, in celebration of women farmers around 

the world. 

Whereas rural women make up over one-quarter of the total 

world population, represent approximately 43 percent of 

the agricultural labor force, and play a critical role in agricultural productivity, both in terms of food security and 

economic security; 

Whereas women serve as the bedrock of society, feeding their 

families, neighbors, and countrymen, and are important 

role models for younger generations; 

Whereas women-led agricultural efforts remain significant 

untapped potential for countries around the world, such 


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•HRES 584 IH 

as in Ukraine, which is the breadbasket of Europe and 

where Ukrainian women play an outsized role in agricultural production, producing 80 percent of the country’s 

vegetables and fruit crops and 60 percent of the hogs 

consumed domestically; 

Whereas women’s involvement in rural projects leads to 

greater productivity, such as in Peru where women’s participation in a rural road project led to more robust 

transportation networks and higher incomes; 

Whereas women farmers continue to face considerable societal limitations and constraints in their access to resources, despite their important role in ensuring food security for their communities; 

Whereas technology and informative extension services in 

rural areas allow for more modern and effective farming 

practices, yet, for example in Zambia, many of the poorest farmers who are women were underserved in development outreach; 

Whereas women farmers in China work over 50 percent of 

the country’s overall labor hours in agriculture, yet are 

excluded from signing contracts in farming schemes; 

Whereas giving rural women the power and ability to cultivate nutritious and ample food positively impacts the 

physical and cognitive development of the next generation, leading to healthier and more productive citizenry; 

Whereas there is great opportunity for economic and societal 

development in any nation that shines a light on women 

farmers and empowers them to succeed as entrepreneurs; 

and 

Whereas food security and economic stability around the 

world require the success of women farmers and are cenVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:09 Oct 25, 2017 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR584.IH HR584

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•HRES 584 IH 

tral to the interests of the United States: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the International Day of Rural 

3 Women; and 

4 (2) calls on the people of the United States and 

5 interested groups to— 

6 (A) celebrate rural women as integral 

7 members of societies and economies around the 

8 world; 

9 (B) recognize women farmers for their role 

10 in feeding their families and fellow countrymen 

11 and for their productivity which helps maintain 

12 economic stability and stronger democracies; 

13 (C) ensure rural women have access to the 

14 tools and productive resources they need to en15 gage in entrepreneurship; and 

16 (D) recommit to reducing limitations, 

17 breaking down barriers to success, and prioriti18 zing initiatives that wholly support rural women 

19 farmers at the local level to ensure more stable 

20 and prosperous societies. 

Æ 


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