Rosalia had been a farmer for years, cultivating land owned by a local leader under an exploitative system that required her to give up part of her harvest as payment for land use. Like many other women in her community, this arrangement left her with little income and no opportunity to expand her livelihood. During a training session on improved agriculture conducted by the EWG project, Rosalia shared her struggles, only to find that many other women had similar experiences of being financially drained by the land rental system.
With support from a WRO, Rosalia and other women gained awareness of legal land acquisition processes and the importance of obtaining legitimate ownership documents. Together, they identified available land that could be allocated to them at no cost. However, their efforts were met with resistance from the local leader, who viewed the free allocation of land as a loss of income. He used his influence to reject their proposal, but the women remained undeterred. Seeking legal assistance from the IPAJ, they engaged in negotiations and pursued their case with persistence.
After a prolonged struggle, Rosalia’s case was resolved in her favour. In early 2024, she finally received legal ownership of land from the community leader responsible for land distribution. This moment was not just a victory for Rosalia but for all the women in her community who had been trapped in similar exploitative agreements. Now, with her own land, she can cultivate crops without fear of losing part of her harvest. This newfound security enhances food availability for her family and provides her with increased financial stability.
For Rosalia, land ownership represents more than just economic opportunity — it symbolises freedom, autonomy and dignity. Her journey from being a tenant farmer to a landowner demonstrates the power of legal awareness, collective action and persistence in challenging unjust systems. Her success has also inspired other women to assert their land rights, reinforcing the broader movement for gender equality in land ownership.
