BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO
THE Ministry of Women Youth Children and Family Affairs is pleased to work in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock to support the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) carry out gender assessment in the Agricultural sector.
This was uttered to the paper yesterday by Mrs Pauline Soaki, Director for Women’s Division at the MWYCFA.
She said this is the first ever assessment carried out, and it’s important to the MWYCFA in terms of gender mainstreaming in the Agricultural sector.
“We hope that this research will inform not only MWYCF but other policy makers and decision makers on how we make decisions and we contribute to the Agriculture sector.
“Also we know from anecdotal research or current researches that women are the backbone of society which shows that high percentage of women are producers of Agricultural product but most times their work and struggle are invisible in Agricultural sector,” said Soaki.
She said most times they haven’t been acknowledged or highlighted concerning their tireless efforts.
“Hence it’s important that this research is carried to help highlight women’s contribution in this sector, also the struggles issues they faced daily.
“And as policy makers we can look at the findings and make good decisions and policies to respond to this challenge and gaps that woman faced in this sector,” Soaki said.
In addition she said she believed that this partnership will help us ensure gender consideration and issues in the sector be addressed.
The initiative was implemented through the support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
