The participation of females in the fisheries sector as the principal worker is much less than males. Female engagement in agriculture is mostly limited to a few occupations. In the case of freshwater fisheries and aquaculture nearly half (47 percent) of the female workers work as street vendors and related workers. If we consider all the women who are engaged in sales and commerce activities in fisheries (shop salespersons/ demonstrators, stall and market salespersons, a street vendor, and related workers) there are more than 55 percent of females who have engaged in these occupations altogether in freshwater fisheries and aquaculture. Along with low participation as a principal activity, access to formal skill development training is almost nil for women.
Our goal is to ensure women feel supported, valued and respected. We have been working to balance the gender makeup of our workforce, and are actively creating a gender-balanced leadership. We have also interesting plans to increase the employment and employability of women in the sector as mentioned below.
Outside our own operations, in the fisheries and aquaculture communities that culture and process our raw materials, we are also working to change the economic, social and cultural outlook for women through a host of different programs that aim to teach the skills required to increase farms’ productivity, build better businesses and improve livelihoods.
But we know there is more to be done, particularly within our supply chains. We have learned there is a clear link between higher levels of women’s education and reduced risks of child labor. Stressing the importance of remaining in education, providing literacy and numeracy courses and running tailored agricultural training programs are all part of our efforts to support women, their families and wider communities. We remain committed to furthering the prospects of women as key agents of change towards a regenerative food system