Fields of Opportunity for Female Empowerment

Realities on the Ground

I studied agricultural engineering and specialised in water management in France, my native country, where, by the way, the majority of students in the department are women. Having become familiar with Netafim’s innovative precision irrigation solutions, I knew this was where I wanted to start my career, and was very excited to be accepted for an internship at Netafim in Israel.

I joined the Africa team and learned firsthand about a whole new world, different crops, unfamiliar agricultural approaches, and a reality that is dependent on rainfall, where the scarcity of water often means low yield and poor-quality harvests. At the same time, attending conferences in Africa taught me how devoted the people are to agriculture and how open and ready they are to change their reality.

Leveling the Playing Field

Climate change significantly impacted rainfall and caused a shift in how we approach agriculture with sustainability as the core goal. This has created a new bottom line; countries must work toward self-sufficiency in order to ensure sustainable food security. To keep agriculture alive, farmers must improve the quality and yield of the crops while simultaneously reducing water consumption. Investment in technology is the only viable solution. I have personally witnessed how Netafim’s precision irrigation systems, enabling farmers with fields of every size to grow more with less, have successfully proven to deliver that solution.

As team project manager, my work starts the moment the contract is signed with the customer. From plotting coordinates through installation I’m responsible for making sure the job gets done, and along the route to implementation, we’re leveling the playing field.

The instruction manuals have been simplified and presented DIY-style, making them significantly easier for the farmers to follow. Our training videos now include images of women as well as men, making them relatable to all. And our teams are training both men and women in the installation, operation and maintenance of the systems, ensuring equal responsibility in the field.

Female Empowerment from the Ground Up

The field of agriculture is open to women from the ground up. In fact, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization is investing significant resources to continue empowering female farmers, entrepreneurs and leaders, ensuring their vital role in each aspect of the field.

Precision irrigation has been an important game-changer for female farmers in particular. When using this technology, yields are no longer dictated by rainfall and buckets of water. With their loads literally lightened, women are freed up for training as leaders in other aspects of agriculture, empowering them and creating new employment opportunities.y

Precision irrigation also enables the planning and forecasting of yields, necessitating comprehensive business management for agriculture, asset and risk management, finance, and projection with women building the entire strategy and leading its implementation. These knowledge areas also contribute to reducing the financial gender gap, particularly in developing countries.

With the intersection of technology, business, and farming, the opportunities for women along the whole spectrum of agriculture are varied and unlimited. And the potential to impact a reality which will reduce poverty, increase productivity, and improve food security and nutrition is great. My experience in the field has taught me that playing with dirt can be both fun and meaningful.