35. Table IX.C.4 provides some more precise indicators on the number of hours spent by rural women in Zaire on various household chores and work in the field. Table IX.C.4 Daily work schedule 9f a woman in rural Zaire Nature of work Work in the fields Fetching water Preparing cassava Preparing the daily meal Total Time spent 7 - 8 hours 45 minutes 4 -5 hours 1 1/2 hours 13hrs.l5 to 15hrs.l5 per day Source: Mitchnik, D.A. The role of women in development in Zaire~-oxFAM, 1973. E. Agricultural de~~loEment policies and women 36. Though policy makers are more and more conscious of the necessity of integrating women in the development process, this has yet to be translated in the actual policies pursued. In fact many policy makers are not fully aware of the role of women in agriculture, and when they are, are not convinced of the neces­ sity of taking into account the specific needs and interests of rural women. 37. Agricultural extension programmes are generally oriented towards men, the unstated assumption being that men are not only household heads, but also the main producers in the rural areas. Likewise, agricultural training prograrrmes are men-oriented, agricultural schools having almost exclusively young men and boys in their student bodies. Women are mostly proposed programmes of home economics which though very useful, disregard their role in agricultural production. 38. Another policies is consequence of the male orientation of agricultural in the choice of techniques. Technical change is 157 E/'LCA/CM.9/5 concentrated in "heavy" techniques, and improvements which could lighten the work of women, like better techniques to replace hand weeding are neglected. Often, the work load of women is greatly increased · because mechanical ploughing enlarge the cultivated area while the associated tasks of weeding, picking and harvest­ ing are not mechanized. 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the role of women in rural areas of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) in relation to agricultural development, highlighting their significant contribution to household chores and work in the fields. It also critiques agricultural development policies for being male-oriented and neglecting the specific needs and interests of rural women. The text suggests that these policies have negative consequences for women's workload and well-being.

**Category**
Agriculture, forestry and fishing, Employment