Lack of recognition to women's works as well as lack of market connection and women-friendly agricultural offices are the major problems that women farmers in the region are facing, participants of the conference said. The conference, which was organized on the occasion of International Women's Day, pointed out several problems such as lack of implementation of prevailing laws, lack of women's right to property due to patriarchal society, and women not getting prioritized in climate change policy and adaptation decisions.
Speaking at the conference, women farmers from Nepal, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh pledged to raise pressing issues and problems related to women farmers with their respective governments. Some participants also said women's participation in farming should be taken as an opportunity. They, however, called on their respective governments to focus on formulation of women-friendly policies, use of technology and incentives to empower women farmers.
The program was a part of GROW Campaign of Oxfam. A total of 50 women farmers participated in the program. Oxfam has also expressed commitment to lobby for bringing changes in policies and other programs for supporting women farmers in the region.
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