1. Women’s Role in Agriculture and Gender Issues in Syria Prepared by Samira Soubh Rural Development Division

2. September7, 2005 Presentation purpose Because rural women are the substantial component of RDD’s concerns, we aimed at: Highlighting the traditional role of women and gender issues Providing data on women's role in agriculture and in the economy Assessing women's access to pentagon assets.

3. September7, 2005 Introduction Women key roles:  Ensuring household food security  Contributing to 70% of agricultural activities  Increasing contribution in the economy  Unpaid and invisible workers  The shortest route to ending poverty Development programs must consider women’s role to achieve UNMDG

4. September7, 2005 For Members Non-farm Production Women’s RoleCommunity Management HouseholdMarket For Market Household Food Security Overall Food Security & Welfare Farm Production Economic Growth Rural Women’s Role in the Economy

5. September7, 2005 Gender Issues in Syria Traditional Gender’s roles lead to constrain development process Gender was neglected in all development projects Women have limited access to productive resources and services Income differentiation All citizens, irrespective of gender, are treated equally before civil law, but: –In marriage and divorce cases –In the penalty (honor Killing)

6. September7, 2005 Labor Gendered distribution in agricultural production Agricultural function% Female% Male Soil invert3.596.5 Sowing and planting28.072.5 Watering and irrigation13.087.0 Weeding73.027.0 Fertilizing and pesticide controlling2.297.8 Grafting and trimming1.099.0 Harvesting77.023.0 Crops marketing0.599.5 Fodder fetching99.01.0 Feeding the animals97.03.0 Watering the animals100.00.0 Milking the animals100.00.0 Grazing the animals62.537.5 Stables cleaning100.00.0 poultry100.00.0

7. September7, 2005 Rural Women Access to Pentagon Assets Access To Human Capital Educational Status of Rural Women –Illiteracy rate in rural areas is 34% (females 44 %, males 16%) –78% of female employees in agriculture are illiterate Health Status of Rural Women –Mortality rate is 107 deaths for 100,000 births –37% of rural women receipted health care after giving birth

8. September7, 2005 Access To Financial Capital Economic Resources Percentage Of Women Access To Recourses % Land ownership 5 Land renters 7 Livestock possessors 8 Agricultural machineries 1 Machineries 1 Cows 7 Sheep 3 Goat 4 Poultry 2

9. September7, 2005 Access To Social Capital Government supports integrating woman into society, but their participation rate still low at decision making position. Women do not have notable role in decision making inside their household

10. September7, 2005 Access To Physical Capital Lack of adequate physical and institutional structures. Fragmented land holdings and limit effective use of technology 56% of rural households are provided with piped water 92% electricity supply. Only 29% of households are supplied with modern sanitary net, Increased women domestic burden (water fetching and using fuel for cooking).

11. September7, 2005 Access to Natural Capital Women have to work in the land, but traditionally do not own it Land ownership by females constitutes 5% of aggregate land ownership, while no women posses transport means and/or agriculture wells

12. September7, 2005 Conclusions and Recommendations Enhance women’s participation in development process Facilitate women’s access to productive resources and basic services Provide special support (credit) to set up income-earning activities Change the ancient perception of women's role and their rights Foster women role in all aspects and levels of society, policy and economy