National seminar calls for formal recognition of women farmers

Speakers on Thursday at a national-level seminar urged for the formal recognition of women farmers to uphold the human rights.

 

They said women constitute 58 per cent of the total agricultural workforce in Bangladesh, making them the majority in the sector. 

 

The speakers said this during the seminar titled “Inclusion of Women Farmers in Climate-Resilient Crop Production and the Role of Policymakers”, organised by AVAS, BINDU, COAST Foundation, and Street Child, held in the city, supported by the Gates Foundation.

 

Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Executive Director of COAST Foundation, moderated the event.

 

The keynote presentation was delivered by Md Iqbal Uddin of COAST Foundation.

 

The paper said that although women are the majority in the agricultural workforce, challenges remain, including a lack of recognition, access to government and institutional facilities compared to men, and limited access to mechanisation, with only 19 of female farmers having agricultural land ownership, but only 4.0-5.0 per cent can really enjoy it. 

 

Without recognition, women farmers lag behind, deny their human rights, though they are the lifeline of the country’s food security. 

 

Nearly one-third of Bangladesh’s population lives in coastal areas where climate impacts are most severe.

 

Despite these challenges, coastal women farmers continue to produce climate-resilient crops but remain excluded from government agricultural facilities. 

 

Recognising and including these farmers is essential to safeguard national food security, the paper said.

 

Distinguished speakers included Dr. Md. Hazrat Ali, Director (in charge)- Crops wing of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE); l Dr. Md. Jamal Uddin, Additional Director of the DAE;  Professor Mir Mohammad Ali, Department of Agriculture, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University; Rahima Sultana Kajol, Executive Director, AVAS; Jannatul Mouwa, Executive Director, BINDU; Imtiaz Ridoy, Country Lead, Street Child Bangladesh; Dr. Sohel Iqbal from COAST Foundation and Rina Begum, Mst Asma Begum, Kalpana Rani, and Nazma Begum as the Coastal women farmers representatives from Patuakhali and Satkhira District.