Struggles of Rural Women in Agri amid Gender Inequalities

Shakila Jalil
Rawalpindi: In 2020, the UNDP assessed Pakistan’s agriculture sector as 90 percent susceptible to the impacts of Covid-19, with 72 percent of rural women engaged in labor.
The press conference, organized by Shirakat, a non-governmental organisation, in Rawalpindi on Wednesday, brought to light the challenges arising from gender inequalities, restricting women’s access to skills, resources, and markets.
These disparities intensify vulnerability and impede the enhancement of livelihoods, as disclosed during the event.
The speakers highlighted the outcomes of the project titled “Post COVID-19 Recovery of Women and Youth Livelihoods through Agricultural Enterprise Development,” implemented in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Muzaffargarh, and Sheikhupura.
Supported financially by the Standard Chartered Bank through the British Asian Trust, Shirakat – Partnership for Development focused on sustainable livelihoods through women’s cooperatives and agricultural value chain additions.
Sixty Business Interest Groups (BIGs) were established in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, 40 in Muzaffargarh, and 20 in Sheikhupura, successfully empowering 600 community members. This empowerment was achieved through initiatives like solar dryers for dehydrating vegetables and fruits, contributing to increased income, the organizers informed.
The project concentrated on supporting Agripreneurs by providing technical and business skills development, establishing crucial links to markets, and facilitating access to financial and literacy skills, fostering future growth.
The approach was based on the recognition that skills alone are insufficient to uplift marginalized individuals from poverty; hence, connections to markets and broader resources are vital for sustainable growth.
Aqsa Shaheen from Pind Sangryal emphasized that the project not only provided alternative means of employment for youth but also imparted valuable business training and exposure to markets, boosting confidence and competence.
Syeda Rida Batool from village Sahang Gujjar Khan shared her journey, explaining how the project supported her and other women in setting up Agri businesses after losing jobs during Covid-19.
She praised Shirakat for enhancing their skills through financial literacy and digital marketing training, expressing her hopes to expand her business potential for a better life.
During her address, the Program Manager of Shirakat urged relevant government departments and ministries to replicate such efforts, emphasizing the importance of supporting rural women for the sake of food security and poverty reduction in Pakistan.