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Where Goats Listen to the Radio

2024-12-03

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

A Contribution by Claudia Jordan

Farmers always have something to say to one another, even if 9,000 kilometers separate them in their daily lives. This was something Ugandan farmers and German LandFrauen (women farmers) learned during an exchange program in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Together, they discovered how women, regardless of age or crises, can achieve great things when united.

Women farmers from Germany and Uganda have come together in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania to discuss the co-creation of women in agriculture. © GIZ Claudia Jordan

By Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

GIZ is a globally active provider of international cooperation for sustainable development. It has more than 50 years of experience in a wide range of fields.

All contributions

“Is the radio for the goats or the people?” Florence Katwere from western Uganda asked curiously. A ripple of laughter spread through the group of Ugandan farmers and German LandFrauen who had gathered for an excursion to German farms in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. At the milking parlor of the "LBG Glasiner Gold" goat farm near Wismar, the visitors were amazed: the facility milks 1,600 goats in just under four hours. Farm owner Sidonie Beltman, demonstrating the milking hoses to the women, glanced at the radio mounted on the wall. "The radio is mostly for the people," she said with a smile. "But who knows? Maybe the music motivates the goats a bit too."

During this exchange, Ugandan farmers are trained in Germany on organizational development, advocacy, and leadership. The training includes field trips to agricultural enterprises alongside local LandFrauen. The project is organized by dlv-LandFrauen gGmbH, supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Ich bin ein Alternativtext — Sidonie Beltman explains the care of her animals in her goat shed. © Claudia Jordan/GIZ

“It’s interesting to look beyond the horizon with colleagues,” said Dr. Heike Müller, Chairwoman of the LandFrauen Association Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, who accompanied the Ugandan women on the excursion day. “We all live on the same planet and are interested in the impacts of our actions on the Global South.” She had already been invited multiple times today by the Ugandan farmers to visit their homeland. As a token of gratitude, they presented her and others with scarves in Uganda's national colors. A pair of colorful flip-flops from Uganda also found a new owner on the goat farm. The exchange with the Ugandan guests was warm and uncomplicated, Müller said. “From one farmer to another, you always find common ground,” said the 59-year-old farmer from Malchin.

Many women lost their agricultural jobs after reunification

Müller and her husband had about 150 cows until 2023. She started her career at an agricultural production cooperative (LPG), the type of collective farm mandated in the DDR. She explained to the Ugandan women what reunification meant for farmers in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern with some figures: about 1,000 LPGs were transformed into 4,000 farms after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Some employees bought land from the LPGs and leased additional plots. Many women lost their jobs on these farms; some moved west. To stand up for women’s rights and strengthen cohesion, the LandFrauen Association Mecklenburg-Vorpommern was founded in 1991. Today, the association has 1,000 members. Nationwide, the German LandFrauen Association (dlv), which celebrated its 75th anniversary last year, has 450,000 members.

In addition to their project work, such as an EU-funded nutrition program for primary and special schools to raise awareness about healthy eating, the LandFrauen also showcased their culinary skills during the meeting, preparing regional fish specialties like herring and shrimp. They also sewed bright red ponchos with the LandFrauen bee symbol embroidered on them for their guests. The LandFrauen of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern also maintain traditions such as crafting grain crowns from the last remnants of the wheat harvest, which they present annually to the state chancellery in Schwerin. The LandFrauen believe that women should become more visible and vocal in politics. With initiatives like the "Municipal Action Program – Women into Politics!", they aim to increase women’s participation in local politics. This is also a pressing issue for the Ugandan farmers.

“In Uganda, women work in agriculture, but men make the decisions. We need more advocacy for women. We want women to speak and the government to listen,”

said Stella Nabbumba, a farmer from central Uganda.

Involving the men

Due to the older age structure of the LandFrauen in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, 50 of them have formed the Young LandFrauen group. One member is Sidonie Beltman, the goat farm owner. “It’s great to have the LandFrauen network here in the countryside,” she said. Standing in the goat barn among her animals, she had to keep pushing the goats away during her English explanations to prevent them from nibbling her constantly. Amid the white German dairy goats, a few larger, brown-hued male goats with impressive horns roamed about. “Reproduction here happens naturally,” Beltman explained. “Our South African Boer goats are much smaller,” noted Florence Katwere as she stroked the head of an especially curious goat. The Ugandan visitors were particularly impressed to learn that goat milk was used to make cheese and ice cream. “It’s amazing how farmers here utilize every part of their production,” said Harriet Achola, a 34-year-old smallholder farmer from Amrun in northern Uganda. The women didn’t have to wait long for a taste test. They could choose between strawberry, hazelnut, or lavender ice cream.

“It’s fascinating to see how women in Germany are involved in agriculture and animal husbandry,” remarked Rehemah Nasejje. The 33-year-old farmer from Mukono in central Uganda raises chickens, the only form of livestock farming women in Uganda are typically involved in, she said. As the coordinator of the Ugandan Young Farmers Association (UNYFA) partnership with dlv under the project “Enhancing the Capacity of Young Women in Agri-Business (ECAWA),” Nasejje emphasized the challenges women face. Women work hard in agriculture but have little decision-making power. When they receive support, they often have to justify it at home and deal with conflicts. “We need to involve men in the process to make long-term progress for women,” she stressed.

A man is also part of the group – the coach Patrick Mpedzisi from Zimbabwe, who is accompanying the women on their study trip. For him, strong women in agriculture are normal, as he was raised by his grandmother, who practiced organic farming in his homelannd.

“I want to encourage the women in this training to be kind to themselves and to help each other. It’s important to build their self-confidence and determination so that they can grow both individually and collectively,”

Mpedzisi emphasized.

Community is also very important to the German LandFrauen. “There are always people to support you, to listen to you. It’s a wonderful community,” said Claudia Nielsen, Vice Chairwoman of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern LandFrauen Association. The 54-year-old farmer knows how vital a strong network is in challenging times. After a serious car accident left her husband requiring care, she faced the demands of running a family farm with 200 cows. She doesn’t plan to pass the farm on to the next generation. “My son should do what he loves,” Nielsen said. “We were workaholics,” Heike Müller added. Her children now live in Jena, Leipzig, and Rostock, pursuing careers as environmental engineers or teachers.

LandFrau Sabine Brauer explained to the Ugandan visitors how a family business can survive political upheavals for centuries during a visit to the Northern German Plant Breeding company (NPZ) on the Baltic Sea island of Poel. In 1897, farmer Hans Lembke began breeding winter rapeseed there. Under the GDR, the company was nationalized, and a second company was founded in Schleswig-Holstein to buy back the old firm after reunification. Today, the family-owned business employs 280 people and exports seeds to 43 countries, including Australia, Mongolia, Chile, and South Africa. The NPZ breeds winter and summer rapeseed, field beans, peas, and forage crops, optimizing them for new diseases and climate change. “I’m fascinated by how a business can endure across generations despite setbacks,” said Harriet Achola, the smallholder farmer from northern Uganda, during a tour of the breeding halls.

A life-changing experience

In her homeland, Achola coordinates a farmers’ association with around 3,000 members, training 2,000 women in agricultural practices and advocacy. She felt empowered by the LandFrauen. “Women can’t do much? Women have so much strength and can fulfill many roles,” she emphasized. “Age doesn’t matter. Many LandFrauen are over 50, but they’re still doing these amazing things.”

Anthea Ndyamuhaki from Kanungu in western Uganda also gained significant insights from her trip to Germany. “This study tour has been a life-changing experience for me. Through an organization like the German LandFrauen, I see the growth of unity and collaboration, enabling them to achieve great things together,” Ndyamuhaki said. The 27-year-old young farmer recently acquired 400 hectares of land for her coffee plantation. “This training has ignited something in me. I want to do something big and do it well – just like the LandFrauen do here.” Her dream is to provide training for young people, women, and men in agriculture. “They should reflect on themselves, find their purpose, and remember the values their parents taught them.”

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A group of people walks through a dense, green forest path, surrounded by lush vegetation on a sunny day.

Feminist development policy – A new beginning?

An Interview by Journalist Jan Rübel

Cameroonian gender and peace activist Marthe Wandou on the role of women and girls in development policy – then and in the future.

A group of women in colorful clothing and headwraps gather outdoors, engaged in conversation near rustic buildings.

Small cup, big impact

A Contribution by UFULU and GIZ

A menstrual health pilot in Rural Malawi empowers rural women in Agribusiness through hygiene products and helps to improve working conditions in rural areas.

Digital participation in the agrofinance sector: rural development and women's inclusion

A Contribution by GIZ

Data security, financing, the automation of loans and the use of alternative data - the digitalisation of financial services in the agricultural sector has many facets, which an international conference with representatives of the agricultural finance sector in Zambia addressed. But how does the digitalisation of financial services contribute to rural development and the inclusion of women?

Women in colorful attire sift grains under a sunny sky, engaging in traditional agriculture. | © GIZ Joerg Boethling

What connects gender and the environment

Women can play a vital role in the change process both when it comes to climate protection and adapting to climate change. But the reality is often still not quite like this: women and girls are particularly badly affected by the climate crisis. Is the topic of gender getting enough attention at the upcoming climate conference? Questions for Bettina Jahn from UN Women Germany.

A group of men wearing masks engage in a fruit preparation activity, emphasizing that nutrition is not just a woman's concern.

Nutrition is not just a women’s issue

A contribution by GIZ

When women have control over the resources of a household and manage the income, it usually leads to a more balanced and healthier diet for the family. But often the decision-making power lies with the men. How can this gender inequality be addressed? The GIZ global project Food Security and Resilience provides insights into project work on gender-transformative approaches finances by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Aerial view of a Madagascar landscape showing a patchwork of fields and a dirt road dividing dry and green areas.

Towards Climate Justice: Securing Women’s Land Rights for a Resilient Tomorrow

A Contribution by TMG

In the midst of global climate discussions, a resounding call emerges: Women's land rights must be the cornerstone of our climate actions. They're not just pieces of the puzzle; they form the foundation for true climate resilience. TMG Think Tank for Sustainability reports from the first African Climate Summit.

A woman in a pink shawl waters young plants in a garden, promoting sustainable agriculture. | © GIZ Climax Film Production

Gender Justice – a Precondition for Resilience

A contribution by IFPRI

Women and girls in poorer countries are affected in particular ways by the multiple crises the world is currently facing. Uncovering the linkages between gender, resilience and food security, experts from International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) look at ways to support women and girls’ capacity to respond to crises.

A smiling woman in a green shawl raises her hand enthusiastically during a conference meeting.

Shu Wen Ng, the Clear-Sighted

An Interview with Shu Wen Ng

Shu Wen Ng is a health economist. She knows what is best suited to go on a plate. But how can this be achieved on a mass scale in countries with lower incomes? "The solutions to gett there already exist," she says, "but what is often missing is courageous leadership to implement them."

Against all Odds

A Contribution by Claudia Huber

Rose Okello is a Matoke farmer and single mother living in a village near Mbarara, a town in southern Uganda. To ensure that she can pay for her family's food, her children's school fees and other expenses on time, Rose uses various financial services. Her story portrays hurdles but also hope for women in agribusiness.

Towards more equitable rural realities

A Contribution by GIZ

In the #HerLand campaign for COP16, the UNCCD is focusing on women as key players in conserving soils and combating drought. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) has also contributed to the campaign focusing on securing women's land rights.

A smiling woman in a polka dot dress holds a baby, embodying change and joy in a lush outdoor setting.

Women as Change Agents

A conversation with Caroline Kayanja, Dr. Eileen Nchanji, & Theresa Herbold

A transformation of agricultural and food systems is not possible without overcoming structural gender inequalities. In this discussion, Caroline Kayanja (UCOBAC), Dr Eileen Nchanji (CIAT) and Theresa Herbold (Ministry of Development) reflect on the key challenges and solutions – from land access and representation to women-led collectives and innovative technologies.

Where Goats Listen to the Radio

By Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

Many women lost their agricultural jobs after reunification

Involving the men

A life-changing experience

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