Rural Women's Day: Mezam celebrates rural women in Bafut

The Cameroonian woman, particularly the rural woman, whose life is known to be entirely for her family can generally be referred to as the mother of the Nation.

Though it is difficult to give an accurate assessment of women's contributions to agriculture, due to the lack of statistics, it is estimated that rural women supply about 90% of the food needed for the subsistence of the population.

During the high growing season, these women devote averagely 6 to 8 hours a day to agriculture in addition to their household work. According to Food Agriculture Organisation FAO Cooperate document Repository, more than 20% of rural households were headed by women in 1989/90.

Rural Women are also responsible for all domestic tasks, including food processing and the collection of fuelwood and water. In general, rural women work 1.5 to 3 times longer than men.

With a very high level of certainty, Agriculture plays an important role in the economy of Cameroon accounting for 27% of the GDP in 1991 and employing 59.3% of the labour force in 1992 (FAO).

The principal cash crops are cotton, coffee, which accounted for 16.7% of exports in 1987, and cacao. While men stay around the cash crops, these rural women find themselves in the main subsistence crops like roots, tubers, plantain, maize and others.

Cameroon is generally considered by FAO to be self-sufficient in food.

Thursday, October 15, 2015, the administration of Mezam Division assembled the division's women on the esplanade of the Bafut Fons Palace. In various ways like song, dance, drama and others these women presented their daily routines to the administration led by Nguele Nguele Felix Senior Divisional Officer for Mezam.

From their activities mostly inspired by agriculture or farming, these women reminded all that they remain the mothers of the nation despite the lack of roads, standard tools, soil nutritional elements like fertilisers and commensurate healthcare.

As always, the government representatives promise to channel these worries to hierarchy.

Until recently, research and financial assistance have been directed to the export cash crop sector at the expense of subsistence food production. The fall in the price of raw materials on the world market has negatively affected the economy and the agricultural sector in particular.

Consequently, Cameroon's current agricultural policy includes increased food production, revitalization and protection of markets, and the development of improved food processing and storage.