Pretoria - Water resources, food security and land were among the issues raised by KwaZulu-Natal rural women during a provincial summit that aimed to recognise the critical role and contribution of rural women.
Hundreds of provincial rural women attended the summit held at the Cecil Emmet Hall in Vryheid organised by the provincial Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development to observe and dedicate a day to profile rural women. The summit also aimed to come up with a rural women strategy.
The province along with other countries in the world recognise the critical role and contribution of rural women, including indigenous women, in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.
Women were given an opportunity to voice their views, especially about the challenges that slow down their work. These included shortage of water resources, fencing, markets and land. The women urged the department to intervene.
Department MEC, Lydia Johnson, assured women that the department wants them to own the different processes involving their development.
She said that gender perspective on rural development calls for a specific focus on the contributions, needs and visions of women as their positions have too often been neglected.
"Women comprise over half the world's population and make a major contribution to the well-being and sustainable development of their communities and nations in ensuring food security in the development and stability of the rural areas," said Johnson.
She said that issues raised during the summit will inform the budget process for the next financial year. The department will however continue to work closely with rural women and amakhosi in spearheading rural development in the province.
First lady, Sizakele Zuma, who is a patron of rural development, encouraged women not to relent but continue to be pillars of their households despite the challenges.
She also emphasised the importance of practicing agriculture as means of ensuring that there is food security in their homes.
