We spent today with our partner Zan Va Zamin in the Hamadoni region. Their main focus is giving training, information and long term support to women working on the land. They cover a whole range of issues from land rights, how to form cooperatives, agricultural practices and getting produce to market. As a result of their work more women have access to land, they can grow more crops and have increased their incomes dramatically.
One of the women we met today was Urozova Mairam Ismokulovna who is 39 years old and married with five children.
“During Soviet times I worked on a collective farm but life was very difficult. It was like being a slave. I worked 7 days a week and often we didn’t get paid. If you were working growing tomatoes they might let you take three at the end of the day instead.
“Life is very different now. Zan Va Zamin has taught me how to improve my life. I have received training and feel like an agricultural specialist. They taught me how to claim land from the government and how to manage it. I know when to sow and harvest crops, how to deal with pests and I share my knowledge with my neighbours. Tomatoes are the most profitable crop we grow as all the women have formed a cooperative and we have signed a contract with a local processing plant.
“I am very happy to be part of this group of women. I have a good income so now I can improve life for my children. We have been able to repair our house, we can afford healthcare and my children have the uniforms they need to attend school.”
We met many women like this today and it made me feel optimistic about the future for
Comments