Crossing the gardens of Mai-Aini and the plain’s of Hazemo, we arrived at the town of Tserona. Since it was Saturday, a market day of the town, a crowd of people, livestock and different items had filled the town. Thousands of people from the town and its environs gather on this day to buy and sell different items.

When you arrive at Tserona you could easily realize that, based on the vast gardens and the loud sounds of pumps, the area is rich in underground water. Seeing the hard working spirit of its residents, in all walks of life and of both genders, one can witness the saying that goes …’we eat what we produce.’

Although Tserona was founded many years ago, it attained its present standard, specifically in agricultural development and in overall growth, only after independence. The endeavours of its residents and its rich resources helped it to be an important trade centre in the area.

Women in the town have a well developed work culture. They are involved in areas that were once believed exclusive to men. When we arrived at the town, a group of women farmers who were heading towards their garden attracted our attention and we followed them. The women were formerly involved in farming activities of their own. However, at the present the administration of the town provided eleven of them a 1.5 hectare of fertile farm land and they formed a union called ‘Abnet,’ (exemplary).

Mrs. Meharite Msgna is the chairperson of the union. Speaking about their activities she said: “before we were given this farmland, we used to make a living dependent on seasonal farming. However, since the rain fed farming is not dependable; our harvest was not more than from hand to mouth. But now, thanks to the administration and the National Union of Eritrean Women branch office here, we are able to lead a better life.”

“Because we realise the importance of the land given to us, we work hard to realize better production. And now we could say that we have improved our livelihood greatly,” she said.

The Abnet union was established in 2003 with the objective of raising vegetables and fruit farming. On their first year of work, they were able to make a 42, 000 Nakfa profit, which encouraged them to continue their work.

The Tserona sub zone is located in a fertile area of the Southern region and is known for its rich water resource. Hence, its residents in general and unions such as Abnet in particular, are able to improve their livelihood benefiting from the opportunity given to them by the Government. Fre-selam and Enda Sherif are also similar unions in the area.

The endeavours of these women farmers have already shown an encouraging progress. What they have achieved so far have raised their morale and are inspired to go further. Now, the Abnet farmers union has transformed its activities from vegetable farming to both fruit and vegetable farming. Onion, tomato, papaya, orange and guava are some of their major harvests.

Members of the defence forces in the area are their main supporters. They help them in every part of their activities.

“Since we started working in this farm, we improved a lot. We are able to meet our children’s needs and raise them properly. Thanks to independence, we are the owners of our land and we are self-reliant now,” said member of Abnet, Mrs. Azieb Keshi Taddese. “At first we didn’t believe that we could make it possible because farming is considered to be male’s job in this area. But now we have become role models,” she said.

The women also received technical and advisory support from the Ministry of Agriculture’s branch office in their area.

According to the head of the National Union of Eritrean Women in the Tserona sub zone, Mrs. Saliha Mohammed, there are three unions of women farmers in the sub zone. “In distributing farming land, we give priorities to the wives of the martyred, to the demobilized fighters, women who were members of the mass organization during the armed struggle and women who are responsible for rearing their families,” she said.

Source: Hadas Eritrea