Plenary: Rural Women’s Voices: Messages to researchers

In the lead-up to the International Day of Rural Women (15 October), four incredible rural women and activists from  different parts of the globe shared their experiences and perspectives on key issues related to gender in agriculture and food systems. Esteemed panelists included Wairimu Kanyiri, Champion Farmer from GROOTS, Kenya; Willemien Koning-Hoeve, Dairy Farmer engaged in the main Dutch and European agricultural organizations with special attention to women in agriculture; Eileen Mairena, Vice President of Indigenous Women’s organization Wangki Tangni who is also a Researcher & Advocacy Officer at the Centre for the Autonomy and Development of Indigenous Peoples (CADPI), Nicaragua; and Bhavanaben Pravinsinh Parmar and Mansi Shah, Farmer and Senior Technical Advisor of Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA), India, respectively. The panelists pointed conference participants towards key areas of research needed to advance gender equality in agriculture and food systems.

Moderator/organisers:
Agnes Atim Apea, Hope Development Initiative and Chairperson of Local Government Finance Commission, Parliament of Uganda, Uganda

Panelists:

• Wairimu Kanyiri, GROOTS, Kenya
• Willemien Konings-Hoeve, Diary farmer, chair of the LTO Women farmers in the Netherlands (LTO Women and Business) and member European Copa-Cogeca’s Women’s Committee, Netherlands
• Bhavanaben Parmar and Mansi Shah, Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA), India ▪ Eileen Mairena, Centre for the Autonomy and Development of Indigenous Peoples (CADPI), Nicaragua