In developing countries, rural women are the poorest and most vulnerable to social disadvantages. Empirical evidence suggests that women in rural areas are more adversely affected by poverty than men. Gender bias and equity are a double burden for these women to bear. Heifer International South Africa (Heifer) has helped lift the burden of inequality by implementing projects that addresses the question of gender equity.
Prior to partnering with Heifer, women in impoverished rural areas in South Africa were primarily housewives. They took care of all their family’s domestic needs. Traditions, discouraged women from having their own ideas on small scale crop production and ownership of livestock. A patriarchal mode motivated by culture hinders woman’s freedom and mobility in social interactions. As projects progressed, traditional thinking has improved and reaps major benefits in the community. Projects that are aimed to reduce poverty views these women as active project members that help the community develop, providing access to basic needs such as food, health and education. Heifer’s plan of action in restoring gender equity includes giving women equal access to and control of land and other productive resources, increasing their participation in policy making and decision making.
Women play an indispensable role in farming and in improving the quality of life in rural areas. Since most of the men in rural communities were urban workers, it was up to the women to participate in project activities. Through implementation of Heifers projects, women have retained a strong orientation to self-help and group co-operation. Women played an active role in being the main participants in most of the projects self-help groups and attended meetings. In these meetings group members would sit together and discuss the best ways to breed livestock, crops, education of children and promote harmony in homes. Women also received training on Heifers 12 cornerstones to ensure sustainable development that included gender equity. These meetings brought together the women of the community and they felt part of a larger family, and by sharing they could do more together as a group. As their skills on agriculture improved so did their confidence and household incomes.
Heifer’s projects aims at generating income, in which disadvantaged women are given gifts of seeds and livestock with the aim of improving their situation as well as that of her family members. The idea is that if a productive asset such as livestock is given to a women and her family, they will be empowered economically and socially in ways that will gradually reduce social and income inequalities. Livestock and crops provide food for both family consumption and sale. This leads to improved health and nutritional status, increased income levels, and greater self-esteem. Projects brought about changes in awareness of rural living to make rural living more pleasant and comfortable. These changes included creating awareness to change the status of women by their active participation in agriculture and acquiring skills to diversify areas of involvement by women supporting women in entrepreneurial roles.
Rural, small scale female farmers play an increasing role in the development and stabilization of rural communities in this new era. Strategies, policy and program interventions need to refocus attention on the situation of rural women in agricultural development to improve opportunities and allow for advancement of these women.
In developing countries, rural women are the poorest and most vulnerable to social disadvantages. Empirical evidence suggests that women in rural areas are more adversely affected by poverty than men. Gender bias and equity are a double burden for these women to bear. Heifer International South Africa (Heifer) has helped lift the burden of inequality by implementing projects that addresses the question of gender equity.
Prior to partnering with Heifer, women in impoverished rural areas in South Africa were primarily housewives. They took care of all their family’s domestic needs. Traditions, discouraged women from having their own ideas on small scale crop production and ownership of livestock. A patriarchal mode motivated by culture hinders woman’s freedom and mobility in social interactions. As projects progressed, traditional thinking has improved and reaps major benefits in the community. Projects that are aimed to reduce poverty views these women as active project members that help the community develop, providing access to basic needs such as food, health and education. Heifer’s plan of action in restoring gender equity includes giving women equal access to and control of land and other productive resources, increasing their participation in policy making and decision making.
Women play an indispensable role in farming and in improving the quality of life in rural areas. Since most of the men in rural communities were urban workers, it was up to the women to participate in project activities. Through implementation of Heifers projects, women have retained a strong orientation to self-help and group co-operation. Women played an active role in being the main participants in most of the projects self-help groups and attended meetings. In these meetings group members would sit together and discuss the best ways to breed livestock, crops, education of children and promote harmony in homes. Women also received training on Heifers 12 cornerstones to ensure sustainable development that included gender equity. These meetings brought together the women of the community and they felt part of a larger family, and by sharing they could do more together as a group. As their skills on agriculture improved so did their confidence and household incomes.
Heifer’s projects aims at generating income, in which disadvantaged women are given gifts of seeds and livestock with the aim of improving their situation as well as that of her family members. The idea is that if a productive asset such as livestock is given to a women and her family, they will be empowered economically and socially in ways that will gradually reduce social and income inequalities. Livestock and crops provide food for both family consumption and sale. This leads to improved health and nutritional status, increased income levels, and greater self-esteem. Projects brought about changes in awareness of rural living to make rural living more pleasant and comfortable. These changes included creating awareness to change the status of women by their active participation in agriculture and acquiring skills to diversify areas of involvement by women supporting women in entrepreneurial roles.
Rural, small scale female farmers play an increasing role in the development and stabilization of rural communities in this new era. Strategies, policy and program interventions need to refocus attention on the situation of rural women in agricultural development to improve opportunities and allow for advancement of these women.