Desertification and Drought Day 2023

Under the theme “Her Land, Her Rights”, this day will be observed on Saturday 17th June 2023. The objective of this year’s focus is to highlight women’s land rights especially since they make up approximately 50% of the global agricultural workforce but regrettably less than one-in-five are land owners.

This year the UN has decided to put emphasis on gender equality, women’s involvement in the agricultural sector and land restoration. Moreover, there is a planned event on 16th June at the United Nations Headquarters General Assembly Hall, titled “Her Land. Her Rights: Advancing Gender Equality and Land Restoration Goals”. It is anticipated that this global observance event will put the spotlight on women’s land rights.

Unlike Antigua and Barbuda many females around the world are not fortunate to be owners of land or farms. This missed opportunity not only prohibits women from equal access to land but added to that is the discriminatory practices pertaining to land tenure, credit access, equal pay and decision-making which often impede their active participation in sustaining land health. Finally, it is observed that women suffer the most when land is degraded.

The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) is pleased to report that women in Antigua and Barbuda can be and are farmers, backyard gardeners, agro-processors, beekeepers, vendors, extension officers or technicians within the sector. Currently registered with the MoA are 120 female crop farmers, 2 female livestock farmers and 205 backyard gardeners.

Women can and have increased agricultural productivity, restored land and built resilience to drought. More and more, women are attending relevant workshops, and courses and are being trained in different areas of the sector. Women are also known to invest more in nutrition, health and education which benefits themselves, their families and the wider society both here and abroad.