EMPOWERING WOMEN AND GIRLS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HUNGER Ugochukwu Charles Ogbedeleto

EMPOWERING WOMEN AND GIRLS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HUNGER

Ugochukwu Charles Ogbedeleto

It is appalling that around sixty percent(60%) of the world’s hungry people are women. They make up more than half of the agricultural force yet they produce less because of constraints that reduce their productivity.Women represent a crucial resource in agriculture through their roles as farmers and labourers but they face severe limitations than men in accessing productive resources such as credit facilities and ownership of land.

If the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) relating to Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) is to get achieved, then we must empower women economically because this is essential to ending hunger. National governments, Financial institutions, Non-governmental organisations and Companies must support projects embarked upon by women aimed at improving food security, their livelihood and economic empowerment.

The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action of 1995 which covers critical areas of concern for women growth and development are still relevant today and should get enforced all over the globe. We should give women and girls equal opportunities in the economic, political, educational, and social sectors to take part actively and enact policies suitable for their growth and development.

Unequal pay must stop and the gender gap should be closed if women’s progress is to get attained and realized. Furnishing women with knowledge, tools, skills and training is an efficient way to increase food production and eliminate hunger. Statistics show that women are good entrepreneurs, therefore, encourage and provide the enabling environment and facilities to help them establish their own businesses.

Alter labour laws to give women a chance to make their own contribution. They should have more access and control to factors of production, resources and equal opportunities as this will not only empower them to fight against hunger, it would also enable the world to maximize its output of food production.

The contribution of women to agriculture and the economy is complex, diverse and significant. They make contributions to rural communities and developing countries through agriculture. Their roles differ and are rapidly changing in many parts of the world. It is therefore on this premise that we should consider women in agriculture and hear their input when deciding any statutes and laws concerning food production and agricultural produce.

Women and girls are our happy homes when empowered and are made happy economically.