The United Nations has named 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer. This initiative aims to highlight the crucial role women play in agriculture and food systems worldwide. It’s not just about gender equality; it’s also vital for economic stability and food security.
Natasha Hayward, a Program Manager at the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP), emphasizes the importance of this year. She explains that women farmers often lack basic financial services, including bank accounts. Many face barriers like restricted land rights, which hinder their ability to secure credit or insurance. Even when women can access financial services, these offerings typically don’t meet their specific needs. They often require smaller amounts of credit to expand their small-scale operations.
Hayward puts it simply: “Women are often farming with one hand tied behind their backs compared to men.”
This inequity has real consequences. In low-income countries, women produce around 80% of the food. If they had equal access to resources, farm yields could increase significantly. Hayward notes that empowering women in agriculture not only boosts food supplies but also improves incomes, education, and overall development. Studies suggest that equal access could raise farm yields by up to 30% and reduce global hunger by as much as 17%. Moreover, women tend to prioritize their family’s nutrition, making their empowerment even more critical.
Despite these facts, women in agriculture face numerous challenges. They often deal with unequal land rights and limited access to agricultural resources. Domestic responsibilities also take up much of their time. Consequently, farms managed by women can be 24% less productive on average. This disparity is especially noticeable in many countries, particularly in Africa, where women represent more than two-thirds of the agricultural workforce.
One major issue is the lack of sex-disaggregated data, which makes it hard for policymakers to understand and address these gender gaps. Hayward highlights that solving these problems requires changing deep-rooted social norms and ensuring women can access and fully use available resources. Empowerment efforts must also engage men in the conversation, as traditional views often limit women’s roles in the household and community.
GAFSP is dedicated to empowering women in agriculture to ensure food security. They analyze barriers women face before launching projects and design targeted interventions. This includes promoting women’s leadership in farming organizations, improving access to finance, and providing necessary agricultural inputs.
In fact, over 40% of GAFSP beneficiaries are women, and more than 80% of their projects meet stringent gender standards. GAFSP also engages men in these initiatives, showing the value that women bring to farming. For example, a $20 million project in Bangladesh aims to support 420,000 farmers in adapting to climate change while providing specific training for women and educating men about the importance of women’s contributions.
The challenges facing women in agriculture are complex. However, with dedicated efforts towards empowerment and equality, we can improve food security and foster greater economic growth globally.
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