Reducing barriers to information and resources for women in the agriculture sector

Isiuwa Iyahen, Deputy Representative - UN Women MCO Caribbean presenting equipment to Mr. Terry Bascombe, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Security. UN Women Photo/Sharon Carter-Burke

Bridgetown, Barbados, March 04th 2024: UN Women through implementation of the UN Trust Fund for Human Security (UNTFHS) Joint Programme recently presented computer equipment to Barbados’ Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Security to support increasing women’s awareness of entrepreneurial incentive and social support schemes.

UNTFHS Joint Programme Coordinator Angela Davis said women were remaining outside the formal sector and could not benefit from incentive and support schemes within the agricultural sector because either their businesses were not formalized, making them ineligible, or they were not aware that these resources existed. The equipment will facilitate women and others in the sector by providing access to this information, whether at the Ministry or in the field.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Terry Bascombe, speaking with the UNTFHS Joint Programme Coordinator, Angela Davis

The UNTFHS Joint Programme is a people centred approach of investing to enhance protection and empowerment and this multi-country Caribbean programme, sought to increase women and youth opportunities and increase the resiliency of their agro and fisheries businesses.

Isiuwa Iyahen, Deputy Representative - UN Women MCO Caribbean said UN Women was delighted to support Barbados and the agro-fisheries sector and looked forward to future collaborations.

Mr. Terry Bascombe, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Security, thanked UN Women and the entire Joint Project team (FAO, UNDP, ILO and other State Partners) for  support under this programme. He said it was in line with the Ministry’s focus to encourage and support women’s participation in the sector such as the Farmers Empowerment and Enfranchisement Drive (FEED) programme for women and youth, and the CARE – Community Agriculture, Response and Empowerment programme for women.

The Permanent Secretary added: “We did observe during the challenging COVID period, we saw more men coming forward and it had nothing to do with the interest of women, but rather had to do with the fact that not many women were aware of what was available and they were left out of the loop … and with this kind donation, we look forward to women occupying that space in agriculture that truly belongs to them”.

(from left) UNTFHS Joint Programme Coordinator Angela Davis; Senior Agriculture Officer – MAFN Barbados, Michael James; Mr. Terry Bascombe, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Security, Economist MAFN Barbados Ms. Julia Bishop and Isiuwa Iyahen, Deputy Representative - UN Women MCO Caribbean. UN Women Photos/Sharon Carter-Burke