International Day of Rural Women: Batéké Plateau farmers call for greater support

On the International Day of Rural Women, October 15, women farmers on the Batéké Plateau near Kinshasa called on authorities to provide stronger support. They face shortages of agricultural equipment, insecurity and limited access to production resources, despite contributing to food security and the local economy. In Balimo, 116 kilometres from Kinshasa, the Union of Women Farmers, founded in 2018, brings together around 50 members who pool their efforts. Vice-president Bernadette Makamu, a farmer since 1998, says farming has enabled her to support her family and provide for her children’s future.