SUNS  4337 Thursday 3 December 1998



BANGLADESH: FAO THEME A TRAVESTY SAY ACTIVISTS

Dhaka, Dec 2 (IPS/Tabibul Islam) -- Women's rights activists here say the Food And Agriculture Organisation (FAO) theme "Women Feed the World,' is a travesty in a country where men completely dominate food policy.

While the FAO deserved congratulations for recognising the role of women in foodgrains production the U.N organisation itself pursues policies which are contrary to the interests of women in Bangladesh.

The activists were critical of the government for neglecting the interests of women in its food distribution policy and in particular the excessive import of wheat.

Women in this country are fed cheap imported wheat and as a vulnerable group in society do not even have the voice to say they prefer rice to wheat or roti (unelavened bread).

"In fact women prefer rice to wheat," says Farida Akhter, a well-known women's rights activist.

Being poor does not mean women have to suffer a lack of choice, she argued and pointed out that rural women prefer bhat (rice) which they can eat with a bit of pulse and chilli.
Being poor does not mean women have to suffer a lack of choice, she argued and pointed out that rural women prefer bhat (rice) which they can eat with a bit of pulse and chilli.

Farida said the world food programme has forced poor women to eat rooti. If women are to be counted in the entire food system, their voices must be heard when we talk about foodgrains import as well, she said.

Bangladesh is currently facing an acute food crisis in the wake of the devastating floodsin August and September this year.
  
But according to the activists international agencies are not acting sensibly in meeting food requirements. They see wheat aid as promoting the United States' wheat market.

During the prolonged floods people were forced to eat whatever they could get. But even after the floods receded they were deprived of their staple of rice for even a single meal in a day.

The vulnerable group feeding (VGF) of the World Food Programme, according to activists, was being diverted by the political elite to get votes.

High yielding varieties of seeds and inputs for fish and poultry production which might have helped distressed women with support from world food programme also did not find favour with them.

Women rights activists termed the initiative for food security as the battle between companies to monopolise food production with unsustainable methods allow global trade to take over from subsistence farmers

"If we accept the fact that women feed the world, then food production plans must be in the control of women. But food security is being proposed by companies. How then do women get control over it?"

Food security can be ensured only if it is in the hands of farmers, especially the middle, marginal and poor farmers as they constitute the majority of the food producers.

Farida Akther, who is also the executive director of UBINIG, a renowned research and women rights organisation in Bangladesh, said women have been engaged in seed preservation for ages.

Improved seed from the market means taking away the control of women over seeds. "This is disempowerment of women," she said.

Akhter opposed the promotion of hybrid seeds by the government and saying that use of pesticides in agricultural production has been very harmful to human health especially to that of women, children and the environment.

Some women activists found it contradictory to promote credit operations for the purchase of pesticides and herbicides when FAO itself believes these are harmful.

"Whether women feed the world at all is debatable - but the question is what do women themselves eat? when does she decide what she is going to eat? Women are good at following and implementing policies but when do they get to make policy?" Akhter demanded to know.

Rashida Aamin, a women's rights leader said over five million poor women in Bangladesh are engaged in the relentless struggle to alleviate poverty through income-generating activities.

But unfortunately, taking advantage of their dehumanizing poverty and helpless condition non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have been charging exorbitant interest rates ranging from 20 percent to 25 percent from these women on loans.

Many leading NGOs, she said, borrowed money from multilateral agencies at nominal interests, but charged high rates of interests while extending loans to the poor women of Bangladesh.

Poor women were compelled to take loans on high interest as they had no choice and were unable to secure loans from institutional sources, she added.

An agricultural survey conducted in 1998 said in families where women are dominant, 90 percent of agricultural jobs are performed by women. But as regards authority to spend the money thus earned men still play the role of decision maker.

The labour force of Bangladesh has been estimated at 56 million of which the female labour force is 21.3 million. 85 percent of these women are unpaid labourers as their household and farm activities are considered unproductive.

Women constitute about 48 percent of the total population but are discriminated against in all fields and in all activities from cradle to the grave.