2016 African Year of Human Rights plans include agriculture and agro-processing

Officials from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations intend to invest resources that guarantee women’s rights to land and similar productive resources.

As part of the 2016 African Year of Human Rights action plans, the agricultural and agro-processing initiatives are meant to increase food production and generate added wealth to help family farmers. It will also minimize and prevent waste and loss of food.

While at the 28th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council and the 26th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union, stakeholders developed practical actions to improve the quality of life and livelihoods for African women. These initiatives will be a major focus throughout this coming year.

“With FAO's support to national governments, several countries have adopted national food and agricultural policies and action plans that fully integrate women's and men's needs,” Mr. Bukar Tijani, FAO assistant director-general and regional representative for Africa, said. “In this regard, FAO believes that investing in women along agricultural value chains is the right and smart thing to do for thriving rural communities and more gender equal societies in Africa. We are developing systemic capacity for expanding women’s opportunities in inclusive agricultural growth. For every dollar invested, the dividends are enormous in overcoming hunger, malnutrition and poverty and creating wealth for family farmers.”