Women's Day is an important moment for us to celebrate the role of women in society. However, this commemoration is also an opportunity for us to highlight important issues that need attention, one of which is related to the food and environmental crisis that continues to increase and has an impact on reducing agricultural productivity and food security. For this reason, on Saturday (11/03) representatives of members of the community-based organisations (OMB) Tunas Muda Raknamo, Tafena Hit Kuan Oefeto and Tnao Tit Kuanheum, Amabi Oefeto sub-district conducted a joint campaign with communities and NGOs in front of the East Nusa Tenggara Governor's office complex.
"The climate crisis has a big influence on food yields and will affect women, because women have a role to serve food for the family, women's lives!" said Ani Mamun, OMB representative in her speech. Women are important actors in addressing the food and environmental crisis. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), women are responsible for 43 per cent of agricultural work in the world. They are also the providers of food and maintainers of the environment in their households. The issue of food and gender equality was a focus voiced by group members as women often have more limited access to agricultural land, water resources, seeds, and fertilisers, compared to men. In addition, women also often have more limited access to markets and capital, making it difficult to develop agricultural businesses and increase their income.
The campaign that focuses on the issue of food crisis and environment during Women's Day is also supported and voiced by NGO network partners including LBH Justicia, IRGSC, Bengkel Appek, Pikul, Hanaf Community, Lowewini, Tebe RK, XR Kupang, TLM, Komunitas Anak Muda, Fisipol Undana, Cis Timor, Kompak and Helong Cultural Guardians Community.
On the same occasion, Rossi Yunior, area manager for Kupang, expressed his hope that the campaign would be able to encourage public awareness related to efforts to anticipate the climate crisis. "Hopefully, OMB representatives will make many community friends and can jointly encourage public awareness and policies related to anticipating the climate crisis, one of the ways is through environmentally-based local food productivity".