OVER a week ago, I got a message from the president of our small community farmers' association through our group chat, seeking guidance on integrating gender responsiveness indicators into our group's program during a capacity-building activity. This raised an important question: Was gender inclusivity adequately covered in his training? It seemed unlikely that he would require external support if it were. Sadly, my doubt was not entirely unfounded.

Reflecting on my own experience in a government-led farm business training last year, it became clear that gender was an afterthought if considered at all. Despite a session labeled 'gender and development,' it really boiled down to a little more than a pep talk, akin to a 'self-fulfilling prophecy' session, lacking substantive discussion on gender dynamics. My feedback to the organizers hopefully initiated a review of their curriculum, but doubts remained. This year's International Women's Month is a suitable time to reflect on gender matters, especially for our small farmers' association.