Women farmers learn together about gender justice, family financial management and the use of house yard for natural farming (Photo: Bina Desa/Tri Haryono)
KULON PROGO, BINADESA.ORG – Awareness about gender justice is essential for the community both in the village and in the city, as women are often experienced gender inequality everywhere. Swara Nusa Institute with Bina Desa had organized gender awareness education, family finance management and utilization of house yard for natural farming. The training that lasted for three days starting on 8 – 10 May 2017 was conducted in the Turus Village Kulon Progo Regency. 30 Participants represented women farmer groups came from the area around Turus Village.
The training was opened with a discussion on gender awareness and women in the organization. In this session, women farmers discussed the importance of understanding duties and functions of women as well as gender justice.
Knowledge of gender justice was a very new subject for the participants. Participants were very enthusiastic; they conveyed their experience and opinions in the discussion. This discussion was facilitated by the Principal of Rural School (SEPEDA) Mardiah from Bina Desa.
In the dialogue of “women’s roles in organizations” assisted by Ida, it was found that organizations could do much more if more women are actively involved. The forum also talks about how to advance the organization. Understanding the role of women in organizations is key to building awareness of cooperation and continuing to develop themselves both knowledge, skills, and abilities. The active role of women in the village, or neighborhood association (RT) is also an important part of community development.
Family finance management is a strategy to manage finances so that people have savings in old age or savings when needed. (Photo: Bina Desa/Tri Haryono)
Family Financial Management and Natural Farming
On the second day, the participants discussed the material that had been obtained on the previous day, either on gender equality or women’s organization. Participants review the method of selling and peddling the menu, the list of menu material presented earlier and guided by Iranda Yudhatama.
Furthermore, discussion on family financial management was delivered by Bowo. It is a strategy to manage finances so that people have savings in old age or savings when needed.
Meanwhile, the discussion and practice on plant nutrition delivered by Sudiyono, a farmer who came from Nanggulan, Kulon Progo. Participants also learned how to use the small land for medicinal plants and vegetables. Optimizing the house yard as a productive agricultural land, in particular for the cultivation of plant crops and medicinal plants is expected to increase the family’s economic income and save expenses as well as to meet the needs of domestic consumption and nutrition.
The use of house yard as a productive agricultural land in the countryside is often indispensable to women’s roles because, in reality, women in rural areas often play a dual role in both domestic and economic sectors for their families.
Finally, the participants formulated a follow-up plan facilitated by Tri Hariyono. Each group makes 3-5 activity plans that will be implemented after the training, either technical activities or in-depth material discussions. (bdk027TH)
