Statement by Hon Gifty E. Kusi ,MP, Tarkwa Nsuaem on Rural Women's Day
Source: parliament_of_ghana
Date: 2026

STATEMENT BY HON. GIFTY E KUSI, MP, TARKWA NSUAEM ON RURAL WOMEN’S DAY Rural Women's Day is celebrated each year on October 15. It was launched at the fourth United Nations Conference on Women in Beijing, China, in 1995 by Non-Government Organizations (NGOs). The day provides rural women and their organizations with a focal point to; Raise the profile of rural women, Sensitize both government and the public to their crucial, yet largely unrecognized roles Promote action in their support. Obtain recognition and support for the multiple roles of rural women, who are mostly farmers and small entrepreneurs. « Fight inequalities and prejudices against rural women. L I C R T E Y Rural women the world over play a major role in ensuring food security and in the development and stability of the rural areas. Yet, with little or no status, they frequently lack the power to secure land rights or access vital services such as credit, inputs, extension, training and education. Their vital contribution to society goes largely unrecognized unnoticed. The purpase of Rural Women's Day is to change this by bringing rural women out of obscurity, at least once a year, - to remind society how much they owe to rural women and to give value and credit to their work. According to the Human Development Report (1995), which triggered the celebration of the day, various contributions have been made by rural women — in their communities, countries and the world, in the following areas. - Rural women, mainly farmers, are at least 1.6 billion and represent more than a quarter of the total world population. ~— Women produce on average more than half of all the food that is grown: up to 80 percent in Africa, 60 percent in Asia, between 30 and 40 percent in Latin America and Western countries. -- Globally, women produce more than half the food that is grown and are primarily responsible for preparing, storing and processing food. - Women in rural areas spend an average of 20% more time than men working; in urban areas, they spend 6% more time. -- Women process 100% of basic household foodstuifs in Africa. -- Women head 60% of households in some regions of Africa: -- Women meet 90% of household water and fuel needs in Africa. PLIGHTS - Women own only 2 per cent of the land, and receive only one per cent of all agricultural credit. - Only 5 per cent of all agricultural extension resources are directed to women. | | i | -- Women constitute two third of the population of all illiterate people. -- Over the years, the number of rural women living in poverty has doubled since 1970. -- In many countries, women are the last family members to eat, and their nutritional needs are met only when and if the men and children have hiad enough. --In rural areas the total workday is 20% longer as compared fo urban areas. if women's work were accurately reflected in national statistics, it would shatter the myth that men are the main breadwinners of the world. -- Society in general, and even rural women themselves, have greatly undervalued and often completely ignored the role of women in maintaining and developing the living countryside with its rich and diversified heritage and traditions. - Women in rural society and especially in farming have always been an “invisible work force.” Too little has been done to fully recognize women's rale on farms and in rural communities, legally, economically, technologically and in stafistics. . RECOMMENDATION - A full recognition of women's role in rural development would greatly contribute to rural prosperity and would, in particular, help sustainable rural development in the poorer countries and regions of the world. - -- Small women-farmer groups can increase their economies-of-scale and bargaining power by Joining with other groups engaged in similar activities. "The inter-group resource book”, a guide to building small farmer group assoclations and networks shows how using a participatory approach, inter-group associations can be established in rural areas. - There is the need to analyze the marketing process for the productions of rurai women in order to improve its efficiency. - Another thing that can be done is to develop plans and programmes in research centers destined to strengthen and dignify rural women. i i