Technology and education in rural women entrepreneurship: approaches and problems in some case studies in Mali and in Italy

The promotion of women entrepreneurship in agriculture includes (other than economic assets and marketing strategies) technology, education and a reliable extension service, but few rural women are involved in the technological development and the excuse is often that women are not technology suited, especially where they have a lower education level. In this work the gender education and technology approach in two different areas of developed and developing countries (Italy and Mali) is analyzed, to understand how education and technology may have a positive impact on women’s ability to widen businesses in the rural sector and which kind of barriers does exist that prevent them from benefiting from education and technology. It is found that both Italian and Malian rural women have a good approach toward the technology if it belongs to their background, if it has been analyzed in a participative way and if an educational background exists. The ownership and the technology control make rural women more confident and empower them especially at the level of the farm decision, improving their ability to develop businesses in their farm