USDA OBSERVES PRESIDENT'S RECOGNITION OF RURAL WOMEN
U.S. to Host Conference on International Women in Agriculture
Washington, DC, October 16 -- USDA officials today applauded the news that President Clinton designated October 15, 1997 International Rural Women's Day. According to the White House, the move was meant to highlight largely unrecognized contributions of rural women the world over to food security and to the development of rural areas.
The Presidential proclamation stated, "Today rural women comprise more than one quarter of the world's population, and they form the basis of much of the world's agricultural economy. In the United States, working on farms and ranches, they play a vital part in ensuring a healthy, safe, and abundant supply of food and fiber for our people."
"While millions of rural women worldwide live below the poverty level, they produce 60 to 80% of all food in some developing nations," said USDA's Under Secretary for Rural Development Jill Long Thompson. "This is a proud day for the women of rural America. I am glad that the President chose this avenue to recognize the work of rural women to produce food to feed their families and neighbors, and that the contribution of these women is starting to be recognized on a large scale."
Along with USDA Rural Development, International Rural Women's Day was sponsored by the International Federation of Agricultural Producers, the World Bank, the Women's World Summit Foundation, and Associated Country Women of the World.
The President also announced yesterday that the United States will host the Second World Conference on Women in Agriculture, to be held in 1998. The conference, sponsored by the President's Interagency Council on Women and USDA, is intended to draw women from around the world to examine ways in which women contribute to agriculture and their role in business economy. Under Secretary Long Thompson will be spearheading efforts in support of the conference.
USDA Rural Development makes loans and grants to provide assistance to homeowners, businesses, and utilities, as well as furnishing technical assistance and training and vital community facilities, in America's rural areas in an effort to provide an improved quality of life for the nation's 53 million rural people.
CONTACT:
Jean Carter
202-690-0513