The oftentimes overlooked and silent contribution of women in the development and growth of the agriculture sector has been applauded by the Minister for Agriculture, Hon. Dr Mahendra Reddy.

While handing over the Women in Agriculture package under the commercial agriculture programmes of the Ministry of Agriculture to three women’s groups at Somosomo Village earlier this week, Minister Reddy paid tribute to their active participation.  

“For a long period of time, we have not recognized the value and contribution of our women farmers to the growth and development of agriculture and the household.

“There is clear evidence that shows women’s roles in the household management and development and agriculture development,” said Minister Reddy.

“The recent Census showed that we have 46% of agricultural households out of the more than 86,000 households, 46% of these households have women actively participating in agriculture, that’s a remarkable revelation,” he added.

Minister Reddy said that traditionally, women were only seen to be good at domestic duties and that they were not seen as equally contributing to the growth and development of the economy; “However, this has changed as more and more women are taking up leading positions in various fields, from medicine, law, economics and teaching and other professions,” he said.

“However, with regards to the growth and development of agriculture, women’s contributions have always been undervalued, in fact during the girmit era, women worked two shifts whereas men only worked one, women used to work with the men on the farms during the day time and during the evening, the women would go home and engage in the household work while the men rested.

“But since then, no one documented their active role in agriculture, the recent Census states that 14% of agriculture households are headed by women and 46% of the agricultural households have women as active members participating in agriculture. This is over and above the contribution at home.”

Minister Reddy shared that women tended to dedicate more time to their agricultural ventures as compared to men because women were more particular with regards to the quality of their produce and they were more conscious about sustainable agriculture practices, and the income they earned was mostly spent on the needs of the households and their children.

“The Ministry of Agriculture applauds and is ready to support the next decade of women farmers, whether it is agriculture or in related areas such as floriculture, cut flowers etc, we are honoured by your contribution and we want to acknowledge women’s role in agriculture and our households,” he said.

Meanwhile, Foodwell Women’s Group president Ms. Salote Draniyasanikula thanked the Ministry for supporting women as they were the backbone and heartbeat of the family unit.

“We were delighted to receive the news that we had been selected to be recipients of this Women in Agriculture programme, out of the many groups of women that applied, we were chosen and I believe this will boost and motivate our women, even more, to achieve and produce,” said Ms. Draniyasanikula.

“We’re open to receiving new members to join our women’s group because we believe in peer-to-peer learning and we will put this assistance to good use, once again, thank you to the Ministry of Agriculture, especially the Hon. Minister for considering us to be a part of the programme,” Ms. Draniyasanikula said.

Senivuga Women’s Group representative Ms. Amelia Ravasua said that during the COVID-19 outbreak and due to the restriction in gatherings, their women’s group was split into smaller groups so that activities could continue.

“I wish to thank the Ministry of Agriculture for this programme and our group will certainly be able to grow more through the Women in Agriculture programme, the only thing we ask is that it also includes assistance for pandanus and tapa planting materials because we want to retain the knowledge of our forefathers by practising our traditional knowledge and passing this knowledge down to our future generations,” said Ms. Ravasua. 

Three women’s groups – Foodwell Women’s Group, Nauluwai Women’s Group, and Senivuga Women’s were awarded the Women in Agriculture programme, with Mr. Pio John Bosco Tikoisuva of Salialevu Estate, Vuna receiving the Land Clearing Programme as part of efforts to bolster agriculture ventures on the island of Taveuni.

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