WOMEN AND YOUTH
WANDILE SIHLOBO: New World Bank book shows value of data in farming interventions
Strategic interventions should be informed by facts to be effective in tackling societal challenges. This rings true to the gender debate in the agricultural sector. Many researchers (myself included) have been arguing that women should get more support if we are to boost Africa’s crop production owing to the role female farmers play. This argument is typically premised on Food and Agriculture Organisation documents that suggest 80% of Africa’s agricultural production comes from small farmers, most of whom are rural women. Concurring with this notion is the World Farmers Organisation, which argues that "women comprise the largest percentage of the workforce in the African agricultural sector but do not have access and control over all land and productive resources". Against this backdrop, the World Bank released a book this week that questions datasets and statements about Africa’s agricultural sector.The book is entitled Agriculture in Africa: Telling Myths from Facts and covers a ...
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