(Ecofin Agency) - In Senegal’s rural zones, women have the smallest portion of farming lands, according to a study entitled “Diagnosis of Women’s role in the pastoral industry” and carried out by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in pastoral areas of Louga, Saint-Louis, Matam and Tambacounda.

“Women’s have a really low access to lands. More than 80% of the lands are controlled by men, thus less than 20% go to women and this portion often represents marginalized, not much fertile and lands that are far from the villages,” said Dr. Malick faye, husbandry specialist at FAO’s office in Dakar, last Thursday during the presentation of the study.

The study which involved local authorities, women organizations and community leaders comes in a context where Senegalese women are fighting for their rights to lands. They demand “at least 30% of the lands”.

Souha Touré