Initiative to Empower African Women in Agriculture

An Initiative to Empower African Women in Agriculture was launched on July 15, 2012 in Addis Abbaba, Ethiopia. Liberian President Sirleaf Johnson, co-chair at the launch, lamented that 70 percent of women in sub-Saharan Africa are agriculture workers, and constitute about 80 percent in the food processing chain, yet women own less than 1 percent of the land and benefit from only 1 percent of agriculture credit.

The President indicated that for Africa to sustain the impressive economic growth which the continent has registered, it will need to boost agricultural productivity. To do so and be at the forefront of agricultural production, the continent needs to involve women who make up half of its 1 billion population with 853 million in sub-Saharan Africa alone.

Johnson stressed the importance of parity for African women in access to land, finance, agricultural input and technology. According to her, the approach can increase total agricultural outputs in Africa by up to 20 percent – one fifth more than current levels. She assured participants at the event of her continued support to the initiative and expressed her wish to see it contribute to food security and gender parity in Africa.

To read more on the launch, go to http://www.emansion.gov.lr/press.php?news_id=2258