Rural Women's Day

The event in Kachreti Vocational School “AISI” brought together over 50 women farmers and councillors from different parts of Georgia, as well as representatives of international organizations, government and MPs.

The event encompassed the exhibition/sale of local produce by women farmers and the panel discussion including Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Deputy Minister of Education and Science, and the Chair of The Agrarian Issues Committee of the Parliament.

Women councillors and farmers raised a range of issues at the panel discussion, including: problems with drinking and irrigation water supply; farmer’s cooperatives; pastures; land taxes; and pre-school education.

The first International Day of Rural Women was observed on 15 October 2008. This new international day, established by the General Assembly in its resolution 62/136 of 18 December 2007, recognizes “the critical role and contribution of rural women, including indigenous women, in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.”

Rural women in Georgia are not actively taking part in local-level decision-making while they are playing decisive role in household nutrition and subsistence farming. Unequal division of labour at home leaves women with significantly less time for leisure and self-development than it is the case with men. According to official data, in rural areas male-headed households represent 69.1%, and female-headed households – 30.9%. While in urban areas the division is 61.2% and 38.8% respectively. Women represent only 10% of local governance.