Women to play larger role in agricultural development

Vientiane Times, 19 May 2010

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is leading the charge for
gender equality, calling for women to participate in steering Laos
towards development and poverty reduction.

More than 100 representatives from the country's agriculture and
forestry sector gathered on Monday and Tuesday in Vientiane to discuss
female roles in development and working towards increasing the number
of women in work. With a growing number of agriculture and forestry
projects in Laos, women are being asked to share a greater role in
resolving development problems.

Last year, the number of women in the sector attending training or
capacity building programmes increased by more than 20 percent,
according to an annual report published by the Lao Women's Union.

The ministry has subsequently advised each provincial agriculture and
forestry department to pay more attention to allocating agricultural
land to poor families and farmers' widows to help foster development.

The departments have also been asked to encourage farmers to
diversify, breaking from traditional methods and encouraging both
domestic and international sales growth, including commercial crop
plantations, fruit trees and livestock breeding.

Deputy Minster of Agriculture and Forestry Dr Ty Phommasack said the
responsibility of the Lao Women's Union would have to increase this
year because there are many duties that need to develop to maintain
and strengthen current activities.

Dr Ty, who is also President of the Advancement of Women Commission,
said that in the past the commission had not functioned well on all
levels, especially in its reporting from local to central branches.

He said current strategies to promote the advancement of women had not
yet done enough and had not been implemented in local communities.

Dr Ty also expressed hopes that the meeting will encourage
participants to shoulder more responsibility in implementing
strategies to benefit women around the country.