Achieving women economic empowerment sets a direct path towards poverty eradication. Other issues like Gender based violence are also affecting women in developing countries .High levels of illiteracy and lack of empowerment among the young women forces them in unfortunate circumstances where they are forced into early marriages of convenience. Lack of proper levels of education deny them the chance to get gainful employment ,hence get financial independence .These women resign themselves to endure untold abuse from their spouses for lack of confidence to walkout off abusive relationships.
However in Kenya, women have discovered they don’t have to rely on their male counterparts for financial stability and have opted to take initiative to empower themselves through agriculture. Many of the survivors of gender based violence are now taking up agricultural entrepreneurship and are encouraging women to take up the venture to achieve economic empowerment by giving them the courage and confidence to walk out of abusive relationships.
Why Agricultural entrepreneurship? Agriculture is the leading foreign exchange earner for the Kenyan government . Policies have been formulated, bills enacted in parliament, foreign relationships cultivated and office dockets created in a bid to ensure the Kenyan farmer is well provided for ,enable them to produce yields for both export and domestic consumption.
Due to the willingness of the government to improve the agriculture sector, women can take up agriculture by doing contract farming. This is the sort of farming where a farmer can sign a contract with an exporting company to supply agricultural yields such watermelons, tomatoes and chili peppers on a contract basis.
Women can scout for land on a convenient location ,plant their crops, get institutions like Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate (KEPHIS) and the Horticultural Crop Directorate to do an audit on their farm, Be on constant communication with foreign exporters to secure production contracts and then, Voila! Economic Independence.
However as much as advantages of contract farming such as a sure market, better prices and readily available technical advice are guaranteed, Like any other businesses ,it’s not without its challenges. They include high prices of inputs, price difference, and corruption of company officials as well as contractor monopoly.
Women agricultural entrepreneurs are advised not to jump straight into the business without prior consultations with established local agriculture entrepreneurs. This is to allow them to get the nitty gritty of doing the business, find and get additional information on the field .This can be done through attending the Nairobi Internal Trade Fair among other agriculture forums held annually throughout the country .They should also conduct thorough due diligence about the contracting company before venturing into a relationship.
More women should take up agricultural entrepreneurship, be their own bosses, walkout of abusive relationships whilst gaining economic independence and empowerment.
hi!
I tried this once with someone I knew from work, she was talking to me but I wasnt focused on what she was saying, it was like I was studying her for the first time. It seemed odd like she was someone I had never met before. I need to try this more often, thknas.[]