South Africa: How More Women in Agriculture Will End Food Security, Tackle Land Reform

Aug 8, 2019
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Addressing gender disparities in the agricultural sector is a prerequisite to increasing women and youth participation in the sector, creating much-needed employment opportunities and ensuring food security, says agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo.Despite the changes in the gender composition in other industries, Sihlobo says the share of women's contribution in South Africa's agricultural labour market is hampered by legal and cultural constraints which manifest themselves in unequal land inheritance, ownership and usage. In addition, women receive less than 10% of available credit and 7% of extension services. This is similar for women in the developing world and the rest of sub-Saharan Africa.