8/14/2019 Straight Talk Foundation: Farm Talk

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Girls/women have the same rights as boys/men over the crops they grow.

Dear Farm Talkers  , wehope you applied onto yourhome gardens all thefarming knowledge youacquired last year. Feel freeto write to us about yourfarming experiences duringthe holidays.

In this issue, find out why itis important for girls and

boys to be given equalopportunities to takedecisions on farming. Alsofind out what other Farm 

Talkers  say about thetopic. Find out whatteachers say aboutdecision making for boysand girls.

TALKMaking agriculture rewarding and fun for pupils & teachers Vol. 9 No. April 2008

Girls and boys needequal voice in farming

Women have good ideas and energy

Girls and boys needequal voice in farming

Pupils of St Catherine PS in Luwero with theirteacher Peter kamya Semugabi in their

school garden. Girls and boys need equalopportunity to make decisions on farming.

Boys, do not assume that girls are only goodfor working and not thinking.

Why both boys andgirls need equalchances

Equal decision andparticipation helps both girlsand boys to:• Discover their full abilities

to do things well• Benefit equally• Share work without

complaint• Learn to do same things

without gender bias• Gain from work without

cheating one another• Develop confidence in

themselves• Learn to respect one

another• Take on responsibilities

without fear

Do you have aschool garden?Do both boys and girls

participate equally inmaking decisionsabout where toplant, what to plant,harvest, sell andhow to use themoney?

In Uganda and most of Africa,women work much harder and

Strong: mostwomen

work hardfor their

families infarming.

Do we have food? Yourmother is the one who makes

sure you eat everyday.Women work 4 to 8 hours morethan men everyday. They growmost of the food that feeds thefamily. They also work hard in

commercial agriculture.

However, men make most of thedecisions about what to sell andhow to use the profits. This is aserious problem.

Why women need more voice•When women earn money, theycontribute almost all of it (94%) tofamily use.•It is the mother's income ratherthan father's income that

determines if children eat well andhave good nutrition.•When men control the familyincome, they often spend it on

unproductive uses such as alcohol.This is one reason why manyfamilies are poor.

 As a young person you canchange this culture. Boys,start by helping your motherand respecting views of girlsand women. Girls, start bylearning to make strongdecisions. Read this Farm 

Talk  to know more.

for longer hours in agriculturethan men.