International Day of Rural Women 15 October
This project, “Evaluation, recovery and conservation of the genetic resources of the Suri alpaca strain in Peru”, started in 2001 and was the first collaboration between SGP Peru and the alpaca-raising communities in the country’s highland areas. Now, the municipality counts five urban artisan collectives and eight in rural areas, for a total of 13 groups working with alpaca products. Photo SGP-GEF-UNDP Peru/Enrique Castro-Mendívil.
The Invaluable Contribution of Rural Women to Development
The crucial role that women and girls play in ensuring the sustainability of rural households and communities, improving rural livelihoods and overall wellbeing, has been increasingly recognized. Women account for a substantial proportion of the agricultural labour force, including informal work, and perform the bulk of unpaid care and domestic work within families and households in rural areas. They make significant contributions to agricultural production, food security and nutrition, land and natural resource management, and building climate resilience.
Background
The first International Day of Rural Women was observed on 15 October 2008. This new international day, established by the General Assembly in its resolution 62/136 of 18 December 2007, recognizes “the critical role and contribution of rural women, including indigenous women, in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.”
These women participate in a FAO Joint Programme on Accelerating Progress towards the Economic Empowerment of Rural Women in Kyrgyzstan. More than 64% of Kyrgyz women live in rural areas. They are central to rural development and to the national economy in Kyrgyzstan. Photo: FAO/ Vyacheslav Oseledko.
This rural woman has benefited from of FAO project Farmer Participatory Seed Multiplication and Post-Harvest Management for Food and Nutrition Security in the provinces of Woleu-Ntem and Moyen-Ogooué, Gabon. Photo FAO/Levy Bouassa & Geshril Mengome
