17Oct
13 representatives of BRDN member networks, yesterday participated in the event in North Macedonia organized on the occasion of the International Day of Rural Women, celebrated each year on October 15.
This year’s celebration of October 15 – International Day of Rural Women was just a continuation of last year’s event and an opportunity to see the results of the Declaration on Improving the Economic and Social Position of Rural Women which was signed by the NFF, RDN, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy and the cooperation between the institutions and NGOs.
The event also hosted a public discussion on the theme “Ownership of Agricultural Land and Property – Challenge for the Rural Woman”. Within the discussion, Marijana Jovovic, as representative of the Rural Development Network of the Republic of Montenegro, shared information about the current and former situation of the rural women in Montenegro, which is similar to the other Balkan countries. Only 12.9% of holders of family farms in Montenegro are women and 3% of women own agricultural property.
“We know that in the Republic of North Macedonia there are facilities for rural women applying to existing measures to support agriculture and rural development through the national program for rural development and IPARD, but I consider it necessary to increase the stimulation of women entrepreneurs and to support women who would be future carriers of projects by providing more information, encouraging, giving business ideas and providing business connections through various ways of networking.“ said Petar Gjorgievski, the President of the Rural Development Network of North Macedonia.
The event is organized annually by the Rural Development Network of North Macedonia and the National Federation of Farmers. This year the event was supported by the Swedish Development Organisation We Effect and was visited by approximately 200 representatives of government institutions, civil society organizations from the country and the Balkans, and other rural stakeholders.