Cuban Ministry of Agriculture promotes actions to strengthen gender equality

HAVANA, Cuba, Sep 9 (ACN) The Ministry of Agriculture (MINAG) reported that it has strengthened the implementation of the Gender Strategy for the Agricultural System (EGSA) 2021-2025, with the goal of expanding women's participation at all levels of the agricultural, forestry, and tobacco sectors.

Julia Muriel Escobar, director of staff for that agency, stated that the EGSA constitutes a management tool to guarantee equal rights and opportunities, and is articulated with structural changes in business management and budgeting models.

The official specified that the strategy has allowed for the consolidation of alliances with the Cuban Women Federation (FMC) from the national to the municipal level, as well as strengthening Gender Committees in the system's entities.

Among the ongoing actions, she mentioned the opening of new children's homes and home support services, along with alternatives for the care of the elderly, to facilitate women's labor force integration in rural areas.

Escobar noted that challenges persist, such as the low percentage of women in decision-making leadership positions and the lower availability of technology and training opportunities compared to men.

According to data from the same Ministry, women represent approximately 25 % of the agricultural workforce, and their participation is concentrated in lower-level administrative and production roles, which requires active policies to reverse this trend.

The EGSA includes monitoring indicators to assess progress in leadership, technical training, and institutional recognition, and promotes the mainstreaming of the gender perspective in national and international cooperation projects.