Rural Women Shine at International Day of Rural Women Empowerment Forum

The ‘FarmHers’ Market, held recently at the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport in New Kingston, provided a platform to celebrate and empower women who are contributing to Jamaica’s agricultural and agro-processing sectors.

The event, held in observation of International Day of Rural Women (IDRW) 2025, was hosted by the Ministry in partnership with the Bureau of Gender Affairs.

It was held under the theme ‘She Invests: Turning Challenges into Opportunities’.

Participants showcased locally produced goods, shared their entrepreneurial journeys, and discussed the challenges and triumphs of rural farming life.

Among the participants was farmer and vendor from Airy Castle in St. Thomas, Anne-Marie Harris, who displayed coconuts and other local produce.

“On my farm, I have jelly [coconuts], I have plantains, I have bananas, I have apples – that’s our Jamaican red apples. I have pear. We plant sorrel – that don’t come in as yet, and we have tomatoes and we also have callaloo that is coming up,” she shared.

Ms. Harris, who often travels to Kingston to sell at Coronation Market, said she appreciates opportunities like these to meet new customers in a more comfortable setting.

“I appreciate it very much to know that we can come here in Kingston… not in the sunlight that I used to down at the market, but to come in a good setting… and to mix and mingle. It’s very interesting,” she said.

Despite challenges such as theft and long hours, Ms. Harris remains committed to her livelihood.

“I am a single mom, and… there’s a saying that one hand cannot clap, but my encouragement to other single women… let your one hand clap… . Yes, it is going to be hard… but let us as women… push on and do our best at all times,” she encouraged.

Also participating was Chantel Bailey, founder of PAKKA Herbs, Food and Shoppe, a herbal wellness brand based in Portmore.

Ms. Bailey said her journey began after discovering the benefits of natural living.

“I was introduced to the herbal life a couple of years ago… . After reading and taking herbs, I realised that I loved how I felt and I just wanted to share it with everybody else so that they can feel the same way,” she told JIS News.

Through her business, Ms. Bailey promotes health and wellness using natural ingredients.

“Herbs are essential to our well-being. It’s the cure for everything, in a sense. Our ancestors used to speak of it back then; however, I don’t think that there is enough awareness about herbal lifestyle because of the stigmatism to it,” she added.

She also encouraged young women not to overlook the value of farming.

“Being a farmer is pretty much the staple of our whole being… everybody has to eat, and the mere fact that everybody has to eat, that’s always a stream of income. It’s just to position yourself in the market and to know your product,” she said.

For Production Supervisor at Debz Non-Dairy Ice Cream, Deserene Duhaney, the event was an opportunity to showcase one of Jamaica’s unique food innovations.

The company, founded by entrepreneur Deborah Belcher, offers flavours such as coconut, grape nut and mango sorbet.

The Production Supervisor said she is proud to see more women making their mark in agriculture.

“Women farmers are taking over, which is very good. It’s a great initiative that women are putting their place on the market. First, we used to have males only as farmers, but now females are really dominating. We can do just what the men do… plant and cultivate. We are natural nurturers,” she stated.

Travelling all the way from Clarendon, owner of Stacey and David’s Organic Harvest, Stacey-Ann Ellis-Walters, displayed fresh produce and baked treats from her family’s farm.

She told JIS News that she operates a diverse business combining farming, catering, and livestock rearing.

“We do farming, catering, and fish farming. I raise tilapia, rabbits, pigs, fish, and chicken… . I’ve love farming from a tender age. I have a passion for it, so I just said, why not do it as a business? What I grow, I eat,” she explained.

She believes more recognition is needed for female farmers, adding that, “people tend to vote more for the male instead of the female, but we can do everything what the male do. Basically… we need more recognition”.

Her advice to other women is: “Just reach for your goal… . In life, you just have to keep trying. Don’t give up… just get up and go harder.”

The IDRW Empowerment Forum and FarmHers Market highlighted the pivotal role of rural women in national development, from feeding families to driving innovation and entrepreneurship.

Through their dedication, creativity, and hard work, Jamaica’s rural women continue to exemplify the theme “She Invests: Turning Challenges into Opportunities”.