Did you know that the Ministry for Agriculture and Land Affairs is launching the Women in Agriculture and Rural Development (WARD) Association in next to no time?

Yes it’s true and it’s being done as part of the build-up towards the Fourth World Congress of Rural Women to be hosted in South Africa in 2007.

When is the Association going to be officially launched?

The Ministry for Agriculture and Land Affairs is launching the Women in Agriculture and Rural Development (WARD) Association at the Regent Hotel in East London from 13 – 15 October 2006.

Are any important women going to attend the launch?

A number of high profile South African and International women will be attending this important event. Amongst the South African dignitaries are the First Lady, Ms Zanele Mbeki, the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Nskozana Dlamini-Zuma and as host the Honourable Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs Ms Lulu Xingwana. Several Ministers from other African countries such as Namibia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe will be in attendance as well as the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Senegal: Ms Ayasatou Ndiaye.

Why the Ministry for Agriculture and Land Affairs?

The launch of the Association is part of the Ministry’s efforts to proactively mobilize rural women to the Congress in 2007 and as such has already successfully hosted a Women in Agriculture and Rural Development (WARD) Summit in Durban from 26-27 August 2006.

What is the World Congress of Rural Women?

It is an international Forum that champions the plight of rural women in development processes, their role as worker, carer and pillar within the family and community. The 2007 Conference is to be hosted in South Africa and rural women from all around the globe are expected to attend.

The Ministry is utilising the period which falls over World Rural Women’s day, which takes place on the 15^th of October to launch WARD. This is done in the true spirit of uniting Rural Women around the world and with an eye on the World Congress of Rural Women coming to our shores in 2007.