6 Minute English from BBC Learning English.com

Hello this is 6 minute English from BBC learning English.

I'm Neil and I'm Beth. If you've ever tried growing vegetables

you'll know it's not easy. They need water, soil and plenty of sunlight. Plus you

have to keep away weeds and insects.

But in some countries, female farmers face a different problem growing and selling vegetables.

Sexism, the mistreatment of one sex based on the belief that the other is better, usually that men are better than women.

According to the United Nations, over 40% of farmers globally are women, a number which rises to almost 50% in lower and middle income countries.

Although these women manage farms, look after crops and sell their produce at markets,

female farmers face sexism in societies where women are expected to raise children and stay at home.

In this program we'll be digging into ideas helping female farmers in Bangladesh and Peru

to earn a fair price for the food they grow.

And as usual, you'll be learning some useful new vocabulary as well.

But first, I have a question for you, Beth,

according to the UN's World Food Program, or WFP, what is the world's most popular vegetable?

Is it A, onions, B, tomatoes, or C, peppers?

I think the answer is tomatoes. Okay Beth I'll reveal the answer later in the program.

Poppy farms a small garden in rural Bangladesh where she grows cucumbers, spinach and okra.

Although around half of Bangladeshi farmers are female,

they're not always welcome at the marketplace where they face harassment

or are underpaid for their produce.

Now Poppy has joined hundreds of other female farmers using a new online app.

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