File:The competition reaches Ngorongoro (8076352445).jpg

At a public forum in Ngorongoro region, held to let women air their voices, common issues that cropped up for women food producers included the inequalities in land ownership; lack of telephone and communication infrastructure; unequal division of labour; and limited access to markets.

“We cultivate various crops but our produce has no reliable market,” said Rose Ezekiel, a local farmer. “Therefore, we either sell at a very low price or retain the produce to rot in granaries.”

Neema Linkay, a 40-year-old widow, is a Female Food Hero finalist from remote Engaresero village. After her husband’s death, his relatives took all the property and possessions and Neema was left with nothing. Striving to survive, she started a retail business, bringing a relatively good income. She then traded some of the supplies from her shop in exchange for a cow and four sheep. Today she’s managed to increase her livestock to seven cows and 15 sheep. At one point she owned 14 cows, but severe drought two years ago depleted her herd.

“When my husband died, everything went with him. I had to start from scratch. It was really hard, but I stood for my family with courage and confidence. I have seen and experienced a lot in this life. I sent my daughter to a boarding school because I don’t want this experience for her.”

Read more about the competition in Ngorongoro here: oxf.am/JH3