Fadnavis releases report on gender and water equality in agriculture

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday launched the report ‘Gender and Water in Agriculture and Allied Sectors’ developed jointly by 2030 Water Resources Group, a public-private-civil society partnership hosted by the World Bank Group and United Nations Development Programme in India.

The publication showcases five successful case studies of women-led growth and entrepreneurship through their participation in agricultural production systems and allied sectors, supported by the collaboration and intervention of public and private sector, and civil society organizations.

“The Government of Maharashtra is committed to creating livelihood opportunities for women,” said Fadnavis. “The success of self-help groups and microfinance movements in Maharashtra is a testament to the potential of collective action by India’s rural women.”

Agriculture in India continues to be at the mercy of unpredictable weather patterns and acute shortage of sustainable water resources. In addition, the existing gender gap prevents women from effectively contributing to improved agricultural productivity.

Research suggests that increasing women’s labor force participation by 10 percent could add 700 billion dollars to India’s GDP by 2025.

For instance, the report highlights scalable, innovative interventions in the agricultural sector to address the challenge of water resources management, use of technology for improved agricultural practices and sustainable value chains while embedding initiatives that empower women economically and socially.

Speaking at the launch event, Nadia Rasheed, Deputy Country Director of UNDP India, said: “At UNDP, we believe that effective collaboration between governments, the private sector and communities is key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

“Our Disha initiative is helping to connect women farmers and their families with private sector companies and markets for their produce. We will continue to support platforms that enable women to have a voice in decision-making and to shape solutions for improving rural livelihoods,” Rasheed said.

[source_without_link]ANI[/source_without_link]