Discrimination in land ownership is the key problem against female farmers' empowerment, speakers said at a press conference Thursday.
They said women's contribution to agriculture has been increasing but ownership over land is being reduced gradually.
The comments were made at the press briefing organised by Oxfam GB, held at the National Press Club in the city as part of its 'campaign for giving recognition of the contribution of female farmers to food security.'
The campaign is aimed at raising mass awareness about the contribution of women farmers mainly in family and national level food security scenario, to give recognition and to protect their rights.
Associate Prof, Department of Economics, Jahangirnagar University Sharmind Neelormi said that 66 per cent of women participated in agricultural activities in 2008, an increase from 58 per cent in 2000.
The allocation of time has also been increased from 1.11 to 1.28 hours per day, she said.
"However, women's contribution to agriculture, which is considered as unpaid family labour, is grossly underestimated," she said.
"In fact, if unpaid work were included, the figures for female employment in agriculture would be even higher," she said.
Lawmaker Shirin Akhtar said that considering the matter of land, women's ownership is reducing.
Women in Bangladesh owned 3.5 per cent of the total agricultural land in 1993 which came down to 2.0 per cent now, she said.
She said women could not get proper share from their parents.
"Females are also deprived of 'khas land' distributed by the government," she said.
"Removing the land ownership discrimination is the key to empower women," she added.
Former finance minister, Bangladesh Mission in Geneva, A M Badrul Hasan, policy and advocacy manager, Oxfam and member secretary, Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL) Manisha Biswas among others also spoke.
However, Oxfam officials said under their campaign in Bangladesh, 7 female farmers will be elected and be awarded for their contribution in agriculture through Oxfam's 19 partner organisations.
They (farmers) will be deployed in their territories to work for other female farmers.
