THE Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) offers an opportunity to raise the issue of economic empowerment of women amongst the policy makers in the Region. In this regard, a special forum targeting women of the Caribbean and the Pacific was held Tuesday at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC).

The forum discussed the challenges and opportunities in the process of linking small farmers to the local market as a strategy for improving investment and agricultural growth in the Region. The objectives of the CWA Women’s Forum were to discuss economic opportunities for women in the Caribbean and Pacific, develop an inter-regional action plan for Caribbean/Pacific collaboration, develop a Caribbean action plan for economic empowerment of women, and sensitise the Alliance of Ministers of Agriculture and the Pacific ministerial delegations present at the CWA to the specific support needed for women farmers and entrepreneurs.

While illustrating that Guyana is known as the bread-basket of the Caribbean, and more so the agricultural nucleus, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Ms, Jennifer Webster stressed that the forum was quite fitting, since agriculture has been and still is one of Guyana’s major sectors that contribute to the economy.
She pointed out that the theme of the forum, Expanding Economic opportunities for Women Farmers and Entrepreneurs in the Caribbean and the Pacific, was most timely. “It is well known that women’s empowerment is a catalyst for the development of every society and more so here in the Caribbean…this might be an understatement, because when we look at the contributions made by our women in development, especially as it relates to food and nutrition security, we realise that our women continue, and are improving themselves especially in the agriculture sector,” she stated.
Minister Webster recognised that small island developing states in the Caribbean and Pacific differ in a number of ways; however, the common factors are the similar disadvantages such as small sizes with a narrow range of resources, fragile eco-systems, excessive dependence on international trade, and high transport and communication cost.
“Women in the Caribbean and the Pacific play a fundamental role in coping with these challenges on a daily basis, and have developed coping strategies and levels of resilience which enable them to continue to feed their families and communities, protect their natural patrimony and contribute to food and nutrition security, while ultimately improving the social and economic stability of their respective countries,” she said.
The minister further stressed that the role of women is such that empowering them affects the individual, family, community, society and the nation as a whole. In this regard, women’s empowerment must be seen as a catalyst for growth and diversification of the various economies.
In light of the fact that many Guyanese women are engaged in farming and agro-processing, it is Minister Webster’s strong belief that agriculture is a hub for economic opportunities on which women can capitalise to create niche markets and economic independence to positively impact their quality of life.
Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy illustrated that in the past, men headed the farms while the women provided strong support.
“Today, however, life has evolved and women are entrepreneurs and women are taking leadership roles…,” he said.
The minister emphasised that farming is no different today, and it caters for men, women and youth as well. Women are not only giving support but they also own the enterprises.
“In our hope to introduce new technology for agriculture, I believe that women in agriculture and youth in agriculture will make sure that the introduction and integration of technology in agriculture will be accelerated,” he stressed. These steps will see the Caribbean, in 2015, being able to stand and say that it has ended hunger and poverty in the Caribbean.
Minister Ramsammy posited that the attendance of Caribbean ministers to the workshops is concrete testimony to the CWA’s importance, and commended the officials from the Pacific islands for their presence.
The Samoan Minister of Agriculture, Le Mamea Ropati, acknowledged that agriculture plays an important role in the Pacific Islands, and the Caribbean as well. He explained that in Samoa and the rest of the Pacific, a lot of effort has gone into recognising the role of women, since traditionally they had their own roles which were at times restricted; however, for the Pacific to be on par with the modern world, the mindset was changed.
Ropati stated that in the next elections in Samoa, there will be a 10 percent representation of women in the legislative assembly.
During the day, there were presentations and discussions on topics such as adding value and regional identity through marketing and branding; green economies – niche markets linking production, trade and tourism; and promoting capacity building, networking and knowledge sharing.