Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Monica Mutsvangwa has urged rural women farmers to expand beyond primary agricultural production and invest in processing, packaging and branding.
Speaking at the national launch of the International Year of Women Farmers during the 10th Rural Women’s Assembly Conference in Chegutu District, Mutsvangwa said value addition could increase farmers’ incomes, create employment and reduce post-harvest losses.
She said greater participation by women in agricultural value chains could also support rural industrialisation and wider economic development.
Mutsvangwa commended Women and Land in Zimbabwe for its work in empowering rural women and increasing their participation in agriculture and economic activities.
She said the Government was working to strengthen women’s land tenure security, improve their access to agricultural finance and promote their representation in devolved governance structures.
The conference brought together rural women, policymakers and representatives from across Africa to discuss land rights, food sovereignty, climate justice, market access, agroecology and rural financing.
Women farmers also shared accounts of their involvement in household income generation, food production and agricultural value chains.
However, information released about the conference did not provide specific figures on funding, implementation targets or the number of women who have secured land and agricultural finance under the initiatives highlighted.
Access to land, affordable finance, markets and climate-resilient farming resources remained central issues discussed at the gathering.
The conference provided a platform for rural women to share their experiences with policymakers and propose measures to strengthen their contribution to Zimbabwe’s agricultural and rural development.
