Digitalisation offers an opportunity to encourage inclusivity and economic empowerment for women while integrating sustainability, employability, and climate action.
On International Women’s Day, we celebrate the remarkable achievements of women across the globe and recognise the importance of promoting gender equality. In the Kenyan context, women are crucial contributors to the agricultural value chain. Digitalisation offers an opportunity to encourage inclusivity and economic empowerment for women while integrating sustainability, employability, and climate action.
However, they often need more access to resources, financial services, and markets, which limits their participation in the sector. Digitalisation offers a solution to address these challenges, promote inclusivity, and empower women.
Digital technologies offer a platform for farmers to collect and analyse data that will help them make informed decisions. For example, mobile applications allow farmers to access market information, weather forecasts, and crop management practices. This information is essential for sustainable agriculture practices that address the challenges of climate change. Women can benefit from these technologies by accessing information on best practices, leading to increased productivity and profitability.
Digital technologies offer opportunities for women to learn new skills and access training that will improve their employability. For example, online courses on agribusiness management, digital marketing, and financial management can help women acquire new skills essential for entrepreneurship and employment.
Promoting gender equality is essential to sustainable development goals, and digitalisation can be a powerful tool for achieving this objective. Digital technologies can promote women’s participation in decision-making, increase access to financial services, and improve their access to education and healthcare. In the agricultural value chain, digital technologies can help women access markets, negotiate prices, and secure contracts.
Left: A seminar with a group of women farmers on the use of digital devices: Agricultural extension officers and Dr Ronald Tombe (In the middle with a digital device.) Right: A female farmer showcasing a farming practice.
Climate change is a significant threat to the sustainability of the agricultural sector, and women are particularly vulnerable to its impact. Digital technologies can help farmers adopt sustainable agriculture practices, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote climate resilience. By integrating sustainability, employability, climate change, gender equality, and climate action, digital technologies can help achieve sustainable development goals and contribute to the Kenyan government’s Vision 2030 agenda. On this International Women’s Day, let us commit to promoting inclusivity and economic empowerment for women in the agricultural sector through digitalisation.
Article submitted by Ronald Tombe
