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The Hindu
10 hours ago
- General
- The Hindu
Empowering women in agriculture for food security
The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, garnering the support of over 100 co-sponsors. The resolution celebrates the essential role of women in global agriculture while raising awareness of their challenges, which include property rights and market access. This article highlights insights from a symposia on women in agriculture organised by the Royal Norwegian Embassy and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in India (with participation and guidance from the Government of India). It distils the discussions over six months, with 200 participants from diverse fields and backgrounds coming together to address the challenges women in agriculture face. Some of the observations here also stem from a collaborative project called ENACT, or Enhancing Climate Adaptation of Vulnerable Communities through Nature-based Solutions and Gender Transformative Approaches, in Assam, implemented by the WFP in partnership with the Government of Assam, in Nagaon. The project aims to empower smallholder farmers, particularly women, to access climate-related information and make informed decisions to enhance their resilience. The project is financed by the Government of Norway under its strategy to promote self-sufficiency in food production and strengthen women's rights and their role in food production. Ownership, control and access Nearly half the global food supply is made possible by the contributions of women, who are responsible for 60% to 80% of food production in developing countries and account for 39% of the agricultural labour in South Asia. These figures highlight the vital role of women in agriculture, who face barriers and inequalities. In India, the percentage of women who own agricultural land is significantly lower than that of men, despite women constituting a substantial part of the farm workforce. Approximately 80% of economically active women are employed in agriculture. Yet, only 14% of landowners are women. According to the latest National Family Health Survey, female land ownership is even lower, at 8.3%. Women farmers in India report that their lack of land ownership makes it difficult to obtain credit and limits their access to financial institutions. Regular access to information on agricultural planning and advisory is essential for farmers, but women have more limited access to technology, such as mobile phones. These obstacles hinder investments, technology adoption and improvements in livelihoods. While microfinance and self-help groups provide some access, such loans are often insufficient for significant investments. The Government of India supports small women farmers to enhance skills and promote sustainable agriculture. The Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana upgrades skills and increases resource access for women, while the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation offers 50% to 80% subsidies for machinery. Additionally, 30% of the National Food Security Mission's budget is allocated for women farmers in a number of States and Union Territories. Empowerment for resilience Climate change disproportionately affects women farmers by increasing their domestic responsibilities and elevating their exposure to agricultural risks. 'Our area has been witnessing rapid weather changes. The variety introduced by the project is designed to resist flood damage, and the crops can survive underwater. We are hoping for a better harvest,' says Nirmali Bora Hazarika from Roha village in Nagaon. By engaging with women farmers, it is possible to develop replicable models of climate adaptation at the village and community levels. The women in agriculture symposia generated forward-looking ideas. The ENACT project primarily connects women farmers with experts through information technology, providing actionable agricultural and climate advisories weekly via their phones to over 300 farmers in 17 villages of Nagaon district. Additionally, the Climate Adaptation Information Centres facilitate video conferencing and meetings, informing women farmers about agriculture and livelihoods. This shows how scalable impact can be achieved by combining technical expertise, diversification through farm-based livelihoods, information and weather advisories, use of technologies and social behaviour change interventions. The project is leveraging partnerships with State and district administrations, which include the Department of Agriculture, the State Rural Livelihoods Mission, and the Departments of Meteorology and Environment. The technology partners include agricultural universities, institutions for sourcing climate-resilient crop varieties. Rural ecosystems and dependent livelihoods are vulnerable. Responses to risks should reflect community needs and capabilities. The ENACT-project emphasises the promotion of flood-resistant rice varieties, livelihood diversification, and market linkages to mitigate crop damage from flooding and promote the cultivation of nutritious local varieties. Women's farmer groups engage in a community-based smart seed production system to enhance sustainability. Steps to take Policy design and implementation should take into account the unique needs of women farmers. Granular data with a gender lens are needed to develop solutions tailored to women's needs. These could range from rethinking farming tools to financial needs and practices around saving or credit. There should be a strong focus on agri-value chains that support women farmers and are managed by women. Part of this could be to enhance women's access to financing mechanisms and information while supporting their collective action and networks, such as women's self-help groups. We have a historic opportunity to mark 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, to promote resilient agricultural development and gender equality by recognising, supporting, and enhancing the role of women in ensuring food security, fostering economic prosperity, and promoting sustainability. May-Elin Stener is the Ambassador of Norway to India. Elisabeth Faure is the Representative and Country Director of the United Nations World Food Programme in India
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EXACT Therapeutics announces positive final results in Phase 1 ACTIVATE trial in liver metastases from colorectal cancer
These results indicate that EXACT Therapeutics' Acoustic Cluster Therapy (ACT®) significantly enhances the local effect of chemotherapy In the patients who had a response to chemotherapy, ACT-treated tumours showed a significantly greater reduction in diameter compared to control tumours (-29% vs. -7%, p<0.05) Final analysis mirrors the excellent safety profile of PS101 seen in the interim read-out and suggests a dose-response relationship The data supports the company's plans for its Phase 2 trial (ENACT) in patients with locally advanced or borderline resectable pancreatic cancer OSLO, Norway, May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EXACT Therapeutics (Euronext Growth: EXTX), a clinical-stage precision medicine company, is pleased to announce the final and positive data set from its Phase 1 ACTIVATE trial. The trial investigated the use of EXACT's proprietary Acoustic Cluster Therapy with chemotherapy in hard-to-treat patients with liver metastases of colorectal origin. These encouraging clinical data provide proof of principle for the clinical application of ACT technology and offer strong support for initiating the ENACT Phase 2 study in pancreatic cancer, a disease with a high unmet medical need. "I am excited about the data from the ACTIVATE trial, which yet again underscore the attractive therapeutic proposition from our proprietary ACT technology. The strength of the response to treatment, the safety profile and its non-invasive nature points to a unique and highly differentiated therapeutic regimen. We continue our efforts to bring ACT to cancer patients as fast as possible. Building on the momentum of the ACTIVATE study, we are excited to be approaching the first patient dosing in our Phase 2 ENACT trial in locally advanced pancreatic cancer." said Per Walday, CEO of EXACT Therapeutics. The final results affirm the previously reported positive ACTIVATE outcomes and indicate the significant added efficacy of ACT with chemotherapy compared with chemotherapy alone. Among patients who responded to chemotherapy, tumor shrinkage was significantly greater with ACT and chemotherapy compared to chemotherapy alone in the same individuals (−29% vs. −7%, p<0.05). ACT treatment with EXACT's proprietary agent PS101 had a clear dose-response relationship. Shrinkage of tumour lesions was significantly greater in patients who received 40 µl/kg PS101 compared with 20 µl/kg PS101. In the group of patients who showed a response to chemotherapy in the control lesions, 3 out of 4 patients who received 40 µl/kg PS101 showed tumour shrinkage of more than 30% in diameter. Tumour shrinkage was seen in 6 out of 9 patients who received ACT with chemotherapy. PS101 was safe and well tolerated when given with chemotherapy. Chief Medical Officer of EXACT Therapeutics, Amir Snapir continued, "Today's update marks the successful completion of the ACTIVATE trial. The results give us great confidence in the treatment potential of the ACT technology for patients with solid tumours." EXACT Therapeutics is committed to advancing cancer therapies and sharing its research findings with the broader scientific community. The company plans to present the detailed data from the Phase 1 ACTIVATE trial in a future scientific publication and at a forthcoming medical conference. The company wishes to thank the patients, their families and the investigators for their participation and contribution to the ACTIVATE trial. About the Phase 1 ACTIVATE trial ACTIVATE is a multi-center, single arm, open-label Phase 1 trial to assess the safety and tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary anti-cancer activity of ACT treatment with the chemotherapy regimens FOLFOX or FOLFIRI in patients with liver metastases of colorectal origin. The trial is designed in the way that each patient serves as their own control, with primary assessment of anti-tumour activity consisting of within-patient comparison of radiographic responses between ACT-treated lesions (insonated plus chemotherapy) and control lesions (chemotherapy alone, non-insonated). Assessment was done at week 8 by blinded central review. The trial enrolled 11 hard-to-treat patients, hereof 9 evaluable, at sites in the United Kingdom. Additional information about the ACTIVATE trial is available at (NCT04021277). About Acoustic Cluster TherapyAcoustic Cluster Therapy (ACT®) consists of PS101 administered intravenously and insonated over a target tissue with ultrasound. PS101 is a formulation of microclusters of perfluorobutane microbubbles and perfluoromethylcyclopentane microdroplets. High frequency insonation causes PS101 to form larger ACT bubbles that are temporarily lodged in capillaries, followed by low frequency insonation, which induces oscillation of the lodged ACT bubbles, enhancing the delivery of the concurrently given chemotherapy to the target tissues. About EXACT TherapeuticsEXACT Therapeutics is a clinical-stage precision medicine company utilizing the power of ultrasound and microbubbles to enable targeted drug delivery in oncology. Acoustic Cluster Therapy (ACT®) follows a unique approach and may be applied to a wide range of therapeutic agents within oncology and across a multitude of other indications, including brain diseases. EXACT Therapeutics' shares are traded on Euronext Growth Oslo (EXTX). Further information may be found here: For further information, please contact: Per WaldayCEO EXACT TherapeuticsEmail: Forward looking statements:This announcement and any materials distributed in connection with this announcement may contain certain forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they reflect the Company's current expectations and assumptions as to future events and circumstances that may not prove accurate. A number of material factors could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by this forward-looking in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
