The year 2026 has been dedicated as the International Year of the Women Farmers by the United Nations, and as such, the Office of the First Lady, in partnership with the Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture & Blue Economy, British High Commission, UNDP, and ESA, organized a series of activities aimed at supporting Seychellois women farmers.
On May 2nd, the First Lady, accompanied by PS Nancy and other Officers from the Agriculture Department, visited five women farmers on Praslin, who are actively engaged in various agricultural activities. These women had the opportunity to meet with the First Lady, who expressed her support and interest in their work. During these visits, discussions centered on challenges faced by these women in the agricultural sector, and they also explored potential strategies for promoting sustainable farming practices within the community.
On May 5th, a vibrant and inspiring “Bazaar” for Women Farmers took place at Camion Hall in Victoria. This event featured about 15 talented women farmers and entrepreneurs, showcasing a diverse array of local produce, handmade goods, and innovative agricultural products. Attendees had the opportunity to connect with these remarkable women, learn about their farming practices, and support their businesses by purchasing their local products. The event fostered a sense of community, empowerment, and collaboration among participants, highlighting the important role that women play in agriculture and entrepreneurship.
On May 7th, visits were organized to meet with six women farmers on Mahe. This outreach aimed to engage with local agricultural practices and gather insights from the farmers about their experiences and challenges. The visits focused on the southern and western regions of the island, where the farmers shared their knowledge and the challenges they face. Plans are underway to conduct similar visits in the northern region at a later date, ensuring that more women farmers have the opportunity to showcase their work and contribute to the discussion about sustainable agriculture.
An All-Women Farmers’ Forum was held on Friday, 8th May, at the Allamanda Hotel. The Forum marked the final activity in this series of events organized to celebrate women farmers in Seychelles. Once again, stakeholders and women farmers had the opportunity to come together and discuss challenges affecting the sector, while also sharing experiences and knowledge on innovation and climate change., amongst other topics on the agenda. The Forum further provided a platform for participants to better understand and adopt climate-smart agricultural practices to strengthen resilience and support the continued evolution of the agricultural sector. The Forum concluded with strategic recommendations from the women farmers on how best to support and strengthen their role and maximize their impact in advancing food security and sovereignty.
These events primarily empower women farmers by providing them with essential knowledge, such as financing options and innovation, and also create a collaborative platform to boost their involvement in the sector. Products made by the women farmers and local entrepreneurs, including beauty items from fruits or vegetables and products based on coconut or cinnamon, were promoted and made known to the public.
Additionally, the focus was also on building the capacity of young women farmers and graduates from the School of Agriculture while fostering partnerships among the government and private enterprises to advocate for policy changes based on the forum’s outcomes.
It was an inspiring week connecting with our women farmers through meaningful activities, and the Agriculture Department looks forward to building on these partnerships to further uplift the role of our women farmers in the communities.
