On the 9th of November 2023, Primson Management Services, (PMS) participated in a Dialogue session on gender equality in the national food system, co-hosted by UN Women and UNOPS. The panel included key representatives from various sectors of the agricultural value chain, such as Constance Pepukai, (Deputy Country Representative for FAO), Clement Mhlanga, (UNOPS Country Director), Loveness Makonese, (UN Women Deputy Country Representative), Olga Nhari, (Founder and CEO of Women in Agriculture Union), Sharon Mamutse (Group Sales Executive at National Foods Limited Zimbabwe), and the guest of honor, Professor Obert Jiri (Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development).
The session focused on supporting women food producers and promoting gender equality in the food industry. Professor Jiri acknowledged the challenges faced by rural women regarding land tenure and conflicts with mining activities. He assured the attendees that his ministry was taking responsibility for addressing these issues and that the Mines and Minerals Act was currently being reviewed.
The event concluded on a positive note, with commitments from FAO, Women in Agriculture, the government of Zimbabwe, and National Foods Limited to strengthen women’s capacities within the national food system. During the session, PMS identified several key takeaways, including the need to protect women from the constraints of patriarchal societies, particularly in rural areas where access to land is limited, supporting women with agricultural inputs, and ensuring better prices for small grains women producers. The session provided a platform to discuss challenges, propose solutions, and outline a path toward closing the gender gap and empowering women in the food industry.
This is crucial to bridge the gender gap in the national food industry. As we come to the end of the year at PMS, we are excited to continue championing this cause through our research, gender audits, and evaluations (Baseline, Midline, and Endline). Being a prominent player in gender research, audits, and evaluations, PMS feels honored to have participated in this high-level engagement.