Bangladesh has 25.6 million people working in agriculture, more than 10.5 million of them women. Yet the state has never recognised women as "farmers".
Women's contribution to food security came up at programmes held around the country by the Bangladesh Food Security Network (KHANI) with support from the international donor Bread for the World.
Under the slogan "Women in the fight for food", separate programmes were held by Songshoptok in Chattogram, Family Ties of Women Development in Kishoreganj, Bindu Nari Unnayan Sangathan in Kaliganj, Satkhira, Prantojon in Rajshahi, Participatory Research Action Network (PRAN) in Noakhali and Prantojon in Barishal.
Mime shows, markets and hearings
The programmes included mime shows on the discrimination women face in obtaining food and their contribution to the fight for food; a discussion titled "Balanced food, women's right"; symbolic free markets for food produced by women, aimed at securing sales for women farmers at every level of market and creating a woman-friendly environment; receptions for women fighters in the food struggle; cultural shows with women taking part; and hearings on the main slogan.
Each programme in some way raised the same demands: state recognition for women farmers, woman-friendly markets for the farm produce they grow, clauses on women's ownership and use of land in the farmland protection law, and an end to wage discrimination against women farmers.
Speakers said that although women farmers have not been recognised nationally as "farmers", their numbers are large. Women do the work in 17 of the 21 stages of farming, yet they have not become farmers. From growing vegetables in the homestead and caring for livestock to sowing, harvesting and carrying field crops, women take part directly in everything. These women farmers are fighting to produce food and are feeding millions of people in the country.
The speakers demanded state recognition for women farmers and the same government benefits that male farmers receive.
Source: Dhaka Tribune. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.
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