Rural women enjoined to form cooperatives

Wouri SDO made the call during the celebration of the 19th edition of the day in Bonendale.

Rural women including indigenous women were hailed once again for their contribution in enhancing agricultural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty, during the celebration of the 19th edition of the World Rural Women’s Day in Douala on Friday October 17.

Presiding at the celebration two days after the date fixed in Beijing by a group of International NGOs (every October 15), the Senior Divisional Officer (SDO) for Wouri, Naseri Paul Bea, marvelled with the processing prowess of the women, encouraged them to form corporative.

With immeasurable appreciation, he intimated that working as a corporative will enhance diversification, generate more income and subsequently improve on their livelihood.

At the event ground in Bonendale Village (in the Douala IV council area), the SDO underscored that rural women are veritable development agents who just need a listening ear. There are items they produced which could be mistaken for imported goods. “I can say without mincing words that the women are agents of development.

They are the real engine of development in our country. I think the Wouri Division and Cameroon should count on them. They just need to be exposed to possibilities for obtaining loans and owning landed properties. When grouped in associations, they will do better things,” he stated.

Edimo Elangue Frederic, Mayor of the Douala IV Municipality, hailed the day kept aside during the fourth UN World Conference on Women in Beijing (China) in 1995, to pay homage to the rural women.

He said rural woman are extraordinary not only for their contribution to community development and food security, but also for giving birth to children and bringing them up properly. He revealed that the council has organised a good number of forums and capacity-building workshops, good enough to make them financially autonomous.

The brave rural women who need adequate health care and potable water, regional Delegate for Minproff, Mbogbe Mbenoun Angele Marie, said, play a major socio-economic and cultural role in the society but lack landed properties, access to huge loan and education.

The rural women produce crops like groundnuts, maize, plantains which ties with the year’s theme, “Together, Celebrate Family Agriculture”. The celebration ended with the visit of stands.