Inspired by the cause to create an inclusive and safe space where gender scholars and advocates come together to discuss and share their research findings on gender-related concerns, particularly in the agricultural field, the Central Bicol State University for Agriculture hosted the 2nd International Conference on “Women Empowerment and Leadership in Agriculture (WELA) on March 12-13, 2024 in Naga City.
The said hybrid international conference was conducted in celebration of Women’s Month, is initiated by the Filipina Meryl Williams Fellows (MWF) in support of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 on gender equality as part of its continuing advocacy for equality and leadership in agriculture. The WELA conference is an activity that acknowledges the significant contribution of both men and women towards leadership in research and development in the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources sector (AANR).
A total of 120 participants joined the conference while a total of 29 faculty and student researchers presented their research papers.
The paper presenters came from Bicol State College of Applied Sciences and Technology, Naga City; Camarines Norte State College; Central Bicol State University of Agriculture; Central Mindanao University, Maramag, Bukidnon, College of Agriculture, Forestry and Environmental Sciences; Mindanao State University at Naawan, Naawan, Misamis Oriental, Philippines; Davao del Sur State College; Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office XIII, Capitol Site, Butuan City; Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao, Davao City, Philippines; Mindanao State University – Iligan; University of the Philippines Mindanao, Davao City; UP Los Banos, and Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro City.
Researchers from the Centre for the Comparative Study of Civil War, University of New York; Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal; University of New England, Armidale, NSW, and Fiji National University also joined the conference and shared their research on topics related to gender in agriculture.
There were also conference participants who came from Cebu Technological University, Mindanao State University, Jollibee Foundation, University of Nueva Caceres, and Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture and Technology, Masbate City.
The Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) organized the conference in partnership with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), Caraga State University, Cavite State University, Mindanao State University – Naawan, University of the Philippines Mindanao School of Management, and Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan. | 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘔𝘴. 𝘔𝘢. 𝘊𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘢 𝘔. 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘊𝘌𝘔 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘺, 2024 𝘞𝘌𝘓𝘈 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘳