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By Christophe Uwizeyimana
The Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) Rwanda Chapter – a project under the implementation of Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resource Board (RAB) has in collaboration with the Alliance for Science Rwanda conducted a 5-day workshop with a theme: “Capacity Development and Engagement with Women in Media and Agriculture Communication in Rwanda.”
While the agriculture sector stands as the backbone of Rwanda’s economy, employing a substantial portion of the local workforce – women have predominantly played a deep role in its recent growth. In contrast to most traditional rural women in Rwanda, the community of local women practitioners of journalism, and agriculture communication have in recent years played a prominent role to the recent country’s strides for food security.
Adding to Rwanda’s prominent leadership towards gender mainstreaming, OFAB Rwanda chapter seek to create a network of women communicators who understands the role of technologies in agriculture. Rural women remain underrepresented in many agroforestry related value chains and they face significant challenges in terms of accessing assets like land property, farm inputs, equipment, training, finance and market channels.
Full of empathy towards there fellow rural women, the participants of this workshop lighted much of the constraints faced by women smallholder farmers they have covered in their day to day media activities. Ranging from lack of time for personal care due to household chores and child care, the women in media and agriculture communication said to have harnessed a lot in terms of science and fact-based communication.
Ready to utilize the gained skills and information, this group of 35 women delved into the core aspect of putting todays media at influencing the future direction of Rwandan food system’s security. Hence, workshop focused at demystifying different myths around new breeding technologies and its links to women’s livelihood in African countries. Despite their significant contribution, there exists still a gap to effectively communicate new scientific advances and their benefits on our agricultural productivity and women’s liberty.
The workshop closed with a general consensus on the participants asserting that biotechnology in agriculture coming as a new tool among many that are being utilized to cope up with a rapidly growth population in terms quality, affordable, and climate-smart food systems.
Workshop details
The objective of this workshop was:
- Empower female media professionals with the knowledge and skills to report accurately and effectively on agricultural biotechnology.
- Develop a cadre of women communicators who can engage with and educate female farmers and agricultural workers about the benefits of biotechnology, fostering a more inclusive and informed agricultural community.
- Create a network of media experts specializing in ag-biotech stories, fostering a community of practice.
- Share experiences and best practices from award-winning journalists to inspire and guide participants.
- Promote accurate, informed, and positive media coverage of agricultural biotechnology, contributing to public understanding and acceptance.
The workshop which is conducted from 1st to 6th April 2024, has been attended by 35 women who are engaged in Journalism and Agriculture across the country. Its main purpose has been to empower women in agribusiness, media professionals, and develop a cadre of women communicators to accurately report on agricultural biotechnology. This group is also expected to empathetically educate their fellow female farmers and agricultural workers about factual science, and benefits of biotechnology. Furthermore, a lot is expected from this cohort of agriculture and media communicators towards fostering an inclusivity and knowledge-based agriculture industry in Rwanda.
The “Women in Media and Agriculture Communication” workshop by OFAB Rwanda Chapter is a step towards bridging the gender gap in agricultural biotechnology communication. By equipping women media professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge, we can ensure a more inclusive, informed, and sustainable future for agriculture in Rwanda.
The Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) has been at the forefront of fostering informed discussions and enhancing public understanding regarding agricultural biotechnology. Recognizing the critical role of media in shaping public perception, OFAB Rwanda chapter and its partners have been organizing unique workshops aimed at creating a network of local media experts proficient in reporting on agricultural technologies, and food systems’ stories.
Despite significant advancements in agricultural biotechnology across Africa, public apprehension and misinformation persist. This is partly due to a lack of specialized knowledge among people moderating the communication on new breakthrough and advancement in agricultural sciences. In response, the Forum has established strategic collaboration with Alliance for Science and the Rwandan media corps to facts that demystify a lot of myth around biotechnology.
With funding from the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), OFAB Rwanda chapter is a project under Rwanda Agriculture and Animal resource Board (RAB) and other stakeholders, has initiated a series of workshops designed to bridge this knowledge Gap.
Dr.Athanase Nduwumuremyi talking about Engagement of ‘Women in Media and Agriculture Communication’//Interview-Kinyarwanda:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH6wOBF6jqQ
Read related Article here:https://theforefrontmagazine.com/ofab-rwanda-is-empowering-journalists-in-science-reporting-through-capacity-building/
Day 1 Workshop’s Photos:
Photo: Ndizeye Gisele from VircaPlus Project and OFAB Rwanda Chapter has introduced and opened the Workshop by giving warm remarks
Photo: Gisele also has presented the main purpose of ”Capacity Development and Engagement of Women in Media and Agriculture Communication Workshop”
Photo: The Attendees, at the beginning have shared their expectations in the Workshop to improve the knowledge
Photo: Nshimiyimana Pacifique who represents Alliance for Science in Rwanda is among facilitators of the Workshop sharing more insights about Biotech Crops Adaptation Status across the Africa, Rwanda, and globally
Photo:Jean Claude Habimana has share knowledge on ‘Understanding key fact-checking practices to identify Misinformation and Disinformation in across different Media platforms
Photo: Developing a cadre of women communicators who can engage with, educating female farmers and agricultural workers about the benefits of biotechnology will foster the inclusivity and informed agricultural community
Other Workshop’s Photos:
Photo: Dr.Athanase Nduwumuremyi OFAB Rwanda Chapter Chairperson
Day 2 of the Workshop:
Pacifique Nshimiyimana shared with the attendees about the situation of Global food trade facts and the EU Market behavior towards the technology of GMOs products
Photo:Image of Global and EU Market deal for GMO products
Photo:Everyone got the time to share her though
Photo: With knowledge sharing session, they focused on the application of biotechnology to enhance Agricultural productivity
Photo: Women expressed their feelings on Agriculture Biotechnology
Photo: Everyone had the curiosity of knowing more on GMOs
Photo: Women were happy to attend the training
Photo: Empowering Women who are in Media and Agriculture with the knowledge and skills will help them to engage, report accurately and effectively on Agricultural Biotechnology
Photo:Ndizeye Gisele-OFAB said:” Women, You are capable and remember that you have the responsibilities of building our country”
Photo: In his closing remarks, Dr.Athanase Nduwumuremyi in OFAB Women Workshop, encouraged those who are engaged in Media and Agriculture to take action and contribute in Agriculture Biotechnology for a better Future of a Farmer and a Consumer
