UN & Norway Partner for Women Farmers in Assam

By: WE Staff | Thursday, 23 November 2023

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in India and the Norwegian Government have launched an initiative to address the difficulties posed by climate change in an effort to strengthen the resilience of women smallholder farmers in Assam.

The agreement, which was signed on November 15, is led by Ms. Elisabeth Faure, WFP's Representative and Country Director in India, and Ms. Anne Beathe Tvinnereim, Norway's Minister of International Development, and aims to empower women in Assam in the face of climate risks. The initiative will collaborate closely with the state government to teach smallholder farmers adaptable agricultural methods, diversification, and livelihood growth strategies.

With a large reliance on agriculture and a sizable rural population, Assam is subjected to climatic extremes ranging from excessive rainfall to drought-like conditions. The initiative's goal is to pioneer novel and scalable climate-resilient agriculture methods, while also encouraging South-South learning and worldwide application.

The initiative highlights the special vulnerabilities that women in the region confront as a result of social processes such as the loss of the matrilineal system and the prevalent patriarchy. Despite their critical role in agriculture, women farmers, who make up 29% of the workforce, are disproportionately vulnerable to climate threats.

Ms. Anne underscored Norway's commitment to assisting communities, particularly women, in protecting their livelihoods from the growing effects of climate change. The relationship includes working with numerous departments in Assam as well as local organizations, as well as organizing women's self-help groups and federations. Furthermore, WFP will draw on the knowledge of the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research to establish climate-neutral and resilient agricultural systems, contributing to the region's overall objective of sustainable agriculture.