The feminization of sustainable development: Addressing the participation of women in achieving food security in Ghana---a study of rural Greater Accra.

摘要

One of the paradoxes facing mankind is the inability to supply the world population with enough food although it is not lacking in the human, economic, and technological ability to do so. Attaining food security is a serious challenge to both developed and developing nations. However, in terms of its severity and proportion of the population affected, the problem is more prevalent in developing countries.;The main objective of this study is to highlight the importance of integrating women in sustainable development, and to show that women, especially those in rural Greater Accra, play an active and significant role in making food available, accessible and useful. The study attempts to answer three key questions. Firstly, what is the food security situation in Ghana and what roles do rural women play in achieving and sustaining the three pillars of food security? Secondly, what challenges do rural women face in terms of access to critical resources and services such as land, credit, and agricultural inputs? Lastly, what are the contributions of stakeholders towards promoting gender equity, poverty reduction, sustainable development, and women's economic empowerment?;The areas considered for data collection were Amasaman, Osonodompe and Mayera, locales of acute food insecurity and with a large number of women famers. In all, 44 participants were interviewed for the study. Focus group discussions with 20 rural women farmers, 5 market queens, and 5 market women were conducted, as well as 14 individual interviews with representatives from 5 governmental and 4 non-governmental agencies.;Findings suggest that rural women are doing their part to produce food for consumption and for marketing. Thus women-centered policies and projects are needed to encourage and emphasize empowerment, to provide better opportunity and remuneration. To a considerable extent, some findings support the proposition that better food processing and storage facilities are needed in order to avoid waste, especially for seasonal farm products. The insights gained and lessons learned are useful as intellectual resources and as a framework for other African countries on how to involve rural women in the implementation of policies aimed at achieving food security.