GLAZOUÈ, Benin — Globally, women have fewer opportunities for economic and social participation than men. In the small town of Glazouè in central Benin, things are no different.
Women are the primary rice farmers in this region during the off-season, performing laborious tasks to farm rice crops in lowland swamps where the threat of pressurized heat burns inches from their faces.
Difficult work for little pay may no longer hinder the women of Glazouè due to an enhanced rice parboiling system established by the Africa Rice Center, AfricaRice. The system protects female farmers from heat burns, raises rice quality standards and produces nearly three times as much product in the same amount of time.
How does this technology work? Known as GEM (Grain quality-enhancer, Energy efficient and Durable Material), the new parboiling methods consume less fuel and water than traditional farming and do not require any firewood. Women can use hoists and rails to move the steaming containers for each paddy, which prevents skin burns.
The system in Glazouè was implemented and funded by the Agricultural Research for Development of Strategic Corps in Africa (SARD-SC) two months ago. Since then, farming trials have shown that GEM technology allows for 300 kilograms of paddy to be processed during each farming session – only 120 kg of paddy resulted from traditional methods.
Less than two percent of grains were burned in comparison to 24 percent with the traditional system. Ninety percent of whole grains were produced, up from only 60 percent without GEM technology. This increase in production more than doubles the monthly income of a female farmer.
“The quality is much better now,” said Batcho Léontine, chair of the Glazoué Women Parboilers’ Association. “Traders from here and from Cotonou are readily buying up all our rice and are also giving us a better deal. Now, we can pay our children’s school fees and take care of medical and other household expenses without having to ask our husbands for money.”
According to the International Rice Research Institute, manufacturing changes in farming rituals are just one initiative promoting financial independence for the 450 female farmers in Glazouè.
Members of the Women Parboilers’ Association in Glazouè were meticulously trained to address all aspects of agribusiness – GEM technology, marketing, packaging and labeling, value addition and leadership skills. These women then trained other members from their group and other farmers from Malanville, where there is a hub for irrigated rice.
The Glazouè Town Hall now endorses the sale of local rice and has contractual agreements with female farmers to do so.
– Kelsey Lay
Sources: AfricaRice , Expogroup, International Rice Research Institute
Photo: Agra.org