There is need to integrate gender issues into planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation, especially in the agricultural sector.

Speaking at the official opening of a five-day training workshop, the Gender Chief Monitor, Odda Gasinzigwa, said that whereas most of the agricultural work is carried out by women, their incomes do not correspond with the time invested.

"We need to support reforms towards gender equality in the agriculture sector, particularly the way services are conceptualised, designed, funded and executed.

Gender should therefore be mainstreamed in all programs,’’ said Gasinzigwa.

The training workshop was organised by Gender Monitoring Office-GMO, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and UN agency on Women.

The workshop emphasised on the need to espouse gender analysis, planning and budgeting in different programs involving men and women especially in agricultural service delivery.

Gasinzigwa noted that whereas most of the agricultural work is conducted by women, they do not control the revenue from crop sales and key agricultural services like farm inputs, extension services and rural development loans are mostly accessed by men.

Members of the National Women Councils were urged to educate rural women about existing opportunities and mobilise them to join cooperatives.

The national program officer, for UN agency on Women, Donnah Kamashazi, observed that women lack equal opportunities as men, and the constraints faced include illiteracy, little time to engage outside domestic work, weak organisation and cultural barriers.

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