Rojava, Syria, women, Kurdistan

Inanna: a Women’s Agricultural Coop in Afrin

This post originally appeared in Turkish on Özgürlükçü Demokrasi, 16 April, 2017.

 

In Rojava’s Afrin Canton [Kantona Efrînê‎ / Afrîn], women are bringing to life the economy. On the 1st of November, 2016, Inanna Agricultural Cooperative was founded with the help of Kongreya Star. Onion, garlic, chickpeas and beans were sown in January and February on the 18 dunam [decare] plot that belong to the women’s collective. The women toil the soil together, weeding out and watering their plants. Their collective production is a model for the economy at large.

Emîne Mustefa, a member of the cooperative who spoke to ANHA, said the biggest obstacle that the women have had to face was the high price of the seeds. “We develop our knowledge of agriculture and farming with education and practice. Our aim with this cooperative is to strengthen group cohesion among us women and to develop the women’s economy”, Emîne said.