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girls girls and women are the key to unlock the potential of agricultural development and food for the world, according to the research center of Chicago

In a dusty field in Kitui, Eastern Kenya, farmers have learned to build small, semi-circular barriers that control the flow of water, reducing runoff.

note that the 90 farmers, few men are. The rest are women. Common in rural areas of Kenya and southern Sudan, like most small farmers are women. The men went to seek work in cities, leaving women to care for crops. In drilling - deep wells - it's the same story. Women and girls have traveled miles to pick up water, a process that takes time. They not only walk long distances, may have to wait - an hour is not uncommon -. Your turn

The role of women and adolescent girls are explained in a report released Friday by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, girls grow up: a vital force in the rural economy (pdf). His key point is that girls and women are the key to unlocking the full potential of agricultural development in poor countries and ensure food security.

"If the world looks at the challenge of feeding 9 billion in 2050, we must invest in human capital that have the potential to transform agricultural economies - teenagers," said Catherine Bertini, author of the report. "I take the burden most families with opportunity, can be agents of change for rural communities and countries in which nations are rediscovering the importance of agricultural development, we want to ensure that the new definition of rural economies. "Highlights include the role of adolescents."

Bertini, who was in London to launch the report, acknowledged that gender was the subject of endless reports for decades. "You could fill the hotel with reports on women," she said. "But now we see people doing something."

Bertini, former Executive Director of World Food Programme of the UN, citing as examples the Food Program of USAID, with its emphasis on the importance of investing in women in agriculture and the work Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, chaired by Kofi Annan, former Secretary General. Bertini also thought that the appointment of Michelle Bachelet at the head of the wife of the United Nations, the new UN agency dealing with gender issues, will help promote women's issues and agriculture.

"It will be a great advantage," said Ms. Bertini. "I think that Michelle Bachelet will be of great help."

The report makes a series of recommendations, including girls from plans country agricultural investments offer health information and comprehensive services, and improve the safety and security. Its most important recommendation, however, covers education: "Education is the most essential to improve the lives of adolescent girls in rural areas and help potential ... girls' education has a high yield potential in terms of income and subsistence, including increased agricultural productivity. "

Specifically, the report urges national governments with the mandate of the universal primary and secondary education, schools girl-friendly, to appoint more women teachers, rural schools to reduce travel time and provide incentives for parents to keep girls in schools through grants, cash transfers and the elimination of school fees.

Bertini acknowledged that some girls may want to stop farming after being polite, but said not all would. "The current model is unsustainable in the long term. What we know women do most of agriculture and farmers educated are more productive, "he said." We must do everything we can to provide the leadership so they can be more productive in the long term .