MARTIN MAWAYA
Zimbabwe is making significant strides in bridging the gender gap in the agriculture sector, with a strong focus on empowering women in horticulture.
The government has launched initiatives to promote gender equality and provide women with equal access to land ownership, secure tenure rights, agricultural finance, and credit.
According to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat), women make up around 70% of the agriculture labor force in rural areas, but often face limited access to resources and decision-making on produce and land use.
To address these challenges, the Ministry of Agriculture is designing new policies and improving extension services, market linkages, and climate-smart technologies.
In the Midlands province, the government has partnered with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to construct a solarized pack shed, benefiting 375 families, with 275 of them being female.
These women farmers are now taking center stage, exporting peas to European countries and South Africa, and enjoying a stable income.
Speaking during the Horticultural Development Council’s Women Business Conference in Harare recently, Agricultural and Rural Development Authority of Zimbabwe (ARDAS) Acting Chief Director Leonard Munamati said the government is committed to promoting gender equality and empowering women in agriculture.
“This conference provides a valuable opportunity for women in agriculture to connect, learn, and grow, addressing the historical marginalization of women in Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector,” Munamati said.
One of the woman in horticulture farming from lower Gweru, Phyllis Dube said they have made a strategic shift towards horticulture, “diversifying their produce beyond traditional crops like tomatoes and cucumbers”.
She told The Midweek Watch that “horticulture has been more profitable than maize production and are growing crops for export”.
By empowering women in agriculture, Zimbabwe aims to increase productivity, enhance climate resilience, and promote economic growth.
Furthermore, these initiatives aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to poverty reduction, fighting hunger, and promoting gender equality.
