ASIA/INDIA - An association to promote women engaged in agricultural activities

New Delhi (Agenzia Fides) - In India, 72% of women are engaged in agriculture. Often, however, these small farmers face numerous economic constraints, have no access to any type of training, to markets and to production incentives. They live in a society where gender biases are deeply ingrained, they have no access to bank accounts nor any right to own land, are not represented in the groups and associations of farmers and have many difficulties in being heard. To support this group the Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA) was founded in 1972, a member of the Indian union based on the principle of self-sufficiency from Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy. The association is committed to strengthening the role of women to achieve full employment by providing them with the most requested work, earnings, food and social security. SEWA is a network of cooperatives at the national level: self-help groups, banks and training centres that can address the multiple obstacles that women face. Today of the 1.3 million women, 54% are small farmers in rural areas, but there are also sellers, construction workers, embroiderers and textile workers. SEWA is also engaged in the education and productivity of female farmers. It offers them advances in new technologies, financial services and employment opportunities for sales representatives. Given the success, the association is expanding to other Asian countries, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 06/12/2010)