By Sheron Tita
Over 50 Rural Women from across Buea have celebrated the International for Rural Women Day in pomp. This was during a ceremony held on Tuesday October 15th 2024, at the Buea
Independence Square, chaired by Arrah Bertha Nkongho epse Palah, Sub Divisional Delegate at the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family( MINPROFF) , Buea Sub Division.
The 29th edition of Rural Women’s Day was commemorated under the theme “Rural Women and Import Substitution, Opportunities and Challenges”. The day recognizes the critical role and contribution of rural women, including indigenous women, in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.
During the celebration Rural Women showcased their various farm produces amongst others that were achieved through an income-generating activity training organized by the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family. The income generating activity training has been focused on crop transformation into finished products.
An excited Arrah Bertha Nkongho, Sub Divisional Delegate MINPROFF, in the course of the ceremony, appealed to Rural Women to submit their plight to her office.
“They shouldn’t feel that being a Rural Woman means that you are left behind. There is an office for you people. Come to this office; come and get information because information is power. You can come to us. We will link you with that partner that you so much need as a Rural Woman to be able to help you function in your own Rural activities perfectly so that at the end of the day you will be able to sustain your family”, she called on the Rural Women.
Kama Sophie, Rural Woman in Bonjongo Court Area, for her part, used this medium to appeal to the Government for the construction of farm-to-market roads which hinders the transportation of their farm produce to the market.
“We don’t have farm-to-market roads. That is one of the major problems we face. So we are appealing to the Government to address this major issue. Most at times our farm produce arrives late at the market due to lack of roads”, she revealed.
The International Day for Rural Women was established by the United Nations General Assembly in its Resolution 62/136 of 18 December 2007.
