Delve into the striking truths about women's role in agriculture. Rekha Mehra is an acclaimed Gender Specialist and Economist with over 25 years of international experience. In this episode, she shines a light on a topic that's often overlooked: women in agriculture. Drawing from her extensive research and program involvement in developing countries, Rekha unveils the unacknowledged reality of women as farmers, fishers, and forest entrepreneurs.
While women comprise nearly half of the farmers in some regions, their essential contributions to farming, fishing, and more are frequently disregarded. Rekha shares her insightful observations from a fishing village in the Philippines, revealing how women not only participate in these sectors but often manage the marketing and income-generating aspects as well.
This discussion further explores the multifaceted roles women play in agriculture and the stark differences in their responsibilities, varying not only by region but also within microenvironments and across different crops. Despite these crucial roles, women farmers grapple with an unlevel playing field. They are often disadvantaged by limited access to vital resources, including tools, seeds, fertilizers, land, water, credit, information, and technology.
Discover how this lack of recognition and assistance for women in agriculture hampers the effectiveness of development programs. With women farmers historically receiving only a fraction of development aid and extension services, there's a dire need for more inclusive, gender-sensitive approaches in agriculture.
Immerse yourself in this engaging conversation that skillfully interweaves hard data with real-world stories. This episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in gender equality, agriculture, and economic development.
Discover more about Women in Agriculture here.
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Svetla Garbeshkova -
Audra Mulkern -
Rekha Mehra -
Lucia Salmaso
- ● Women constitute a substantial portion of the farming population, yet are frequently disregarded in their role as farmers.
- ●In certain regions of the developing world, women comprise up to 50% of the farming population.
- ● Whether engaged in farming, fishing, or forest-based enterprises, women primarily rely on farming as their occupation.
In this series
CEO, AGRO TV BULGARIA
Svetla Garbeshkova is a Bulgarian journalist and CEO of AGRO TV Bulgaria – a national TV including various shows and headlines focused on agriculture, rural areas and the processing industry. On AGRO TV Bulgaria, priority is given to news feeds, which offer up-to-date information from the agro sector in Bulgaria and abroad. Svetla is also a jury member of Tractor of the Year – an international award for the best tractor in the European market.
FOUNDER, THE FEMALE FARMER PROJECT
Audra Mulkern is a writer, photographer and international speaker. She is the founder of «The Female Farmer Project» - a multi-platform documentary project that chronicles the rise of women working in agriculture around the world. The Female Farmer ProjectTM has garnered international recognition, and has been in exhibition at the United Nations in New York, La Maison Rouge Gallery in Paris, TEDxManhattan 2015 and is in permanent exhibition at the USDA in Washington DC.
GENDER SPECIALIST & ECONOMIST
Rekha Mehra is a Gender Specialist and Economist. She is an Indipendent Consultant for various companies with a focus on Gender Equality and Agriculture. She is leader and technical expert in the following areas: gender equality, gender and development, economic and social empowerment of women and girls. Rekha has more than 25 years experience in research programs, advocacy and training related to gender, economic development and agriculture. During her work experience, she has worked in more than 25 countries in all developing regions.
Lucia Salmaso is the Managing Director of BKT Europe. Lucia has been in the tire industry for almost 40 years.
She is a firm believer that an open-minded approach is the key to success. Always looking for new tasks and challenges, not only is she a multinational business manager but she also represents a role model for all the women that are at the beginning of their career.
Lucia advocates for diversity, innovation, and global growth, as well as values family reflected by BKT's culture.
