Agriculture in Contramaestre advocates for greater female prominence
Agriculture en Contramaestre advocates for greater female prominence when professionals from the Tropical Fruit Research Institute made a commitment to reduce the inequality gaps between men and women working in the sector.
Through the Gender Equality Management System for Food Security (IGECSA), an initiative that has only been implemented throughout Cuba in the provinces of Santiago de Cuba, Granma and Sancti Spíritus and five municipalities, women are expected to have better jobs, including management positions and with conditions to develop their work with good practices.
In a recent training workshop at the Agroindustrial Company Free America for the agricultural workers of the territory, Ismael Fuentes Elías, professor at the university headquarters in Contramaestre, demonstrated the need to create gender committees in productive structures to defend IGECSA’s purposes, as well as to raise awareness of their importance among both men and women.
He also urged that concrete actions be focused on the five fundamental axes of the project to reduce gender gaps. These are: selection and contribution of personnel, professional development, consolidation of work-family life with responsibility, work environment and health, and inclusive communication and non-sexist image.
Challenges of agriculture with the IGECSA project
Among the goals of the project, Fuentes Elías highlighted that at least 60 percent of the beneficiary cooperativist women will increase their income and at least five cooperatives will implement initiatives that will favor women’s participation and empowerment.
The strategy for gender equity in the agricultural sector of Contramaestre also aims to accompany and promote the incorporation of young women and opportunities for them to take up agricultural courses. It promotes the right of women to apply for land in usufruct, to have access to bank credits and technical assistance for the management of crops and irrigation systems.
In addition to the Ministry of Agriculture (MINAG), the National Association of Small Farmers (ANAP) and the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC) defend the application of IGECSA.
Written by Radio Grito de Baire
