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Xinjiang’s First Training on Enhancement of Women’s Leadership in Agriculture, Agricultural Machinery and Animal Husbandry Held in Yining

By Bi Huiying (Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Machinery Management Bureau Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region)
 

From May 20th to 23rd, 2008, the four-day Training on Enhancement of Women’s Leadership in Agriculture, Agricultural Machinery and Animal Husbandry was held in Yining, a picturesque city in Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang. The training was organized by Xinjiang Office of China-Canada Sustainable Agriculture Development Project, which invited Zhao Jie, and Wen Yiqun, two experts on gender issues from Yunnan Provincial Academy of Social Sciences. Leaders from School of Social Relations of Xinjiang University were present at the training. Attending the training were 30 female officials and female technicians with middle-level certificates and above from fields of agriculture, agricultural machinery and animal husbandry of five prefectures and counties (or cities) in north Xinjiang. The training covered 6 themes, including basic knowledge of gender and gender mainstreaming under the China-Canada Project; definitions of leadership, leading process and the basic meaning of leadership/management; potentials and challenges for female leaders and leadership enhancement; enhancement of work ability in rural areas/grazing areas and ability to work with women in rural areas/grazing areas; and gender-sensitive participatory planning. The training adopted participatory and interactive teaching, featuring methods such as brainstorming. After 4 days of learning, trainees had a basic understanding of the above six topics. Trainees were also convinced that gender equality is not only conducive to the sustainability of SADP in Xinjiang, but also to the enhancement of women’s leadership in agriculture of Xinjiang. Different from the past trainings we organized or attended, teachers in this training adopted inspirational teaching methods, where each trainee was involved through group discussion and questioning. A learning atmosphere of equal and democratic participation was created, in which each trainee was guided to think and encouraged to express his or her views. Trainees gradually learned methods and steps of analyzing through thinking, assessing, rethinking, reinforcing and proper guidance. The training methods were easy to understand and conducive to mutual exchanges among trainees. The training class was spiced with cultural and entertainment performances of individual trainees. Each one’s initiative was mobilized and the training had achieved great results. At the closing ceremony of the training, trainees all held the view that because of the gender gap, many women, especially those in rural areas, met with all kinds of difficulties when seeking growth and development. However, women could change themselves first, and then influence and change people around them. Women could demonstrate to the society that the social status would be earned by achievements. At the same time, trainees were also eager to apply the methods of analyzing and solving problems into their daily work. At present, gender awareness is being promoted continuously. The trainees would try hard to improve their theory and practical abilities and take the lead in helping women play an active role in the development of rural economy and building of a new socialist countryside.

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