Why support for women in farming is critical

Women are the backbone of agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa, making up 66 per cent of the workforce in agrifood systems. They till the land, plant the seeds, harvest the crops, and bring food to markets — sustaining families and communities. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), their efforts support a sector that contributes about 21 per cent of the region’s GDP.

Women also play a key role in climate change adaptation, having traditionally embraced sustainable agriculture practices and preserving crop biodiversity. Despite this, rural women are more vulnerable to climate change due to lack of assets and advisory services. This is particularly true in Eastern Africa, where droughts, floods and shifting weather patterns threaten food security and productivity.

In Eastern Africa, women produce most of the food consumed by households and sold in local markets, yet they face several challenges that prevent them from fully benefiting from the agricultural sector. One significant barrier is limited access to land. According to FAO, women in many African countries own less than 20 per cent of agricultural land, with customary laws restricting their ability to inherit, purchase or control land. This limits their investment potential and access to resources like loans.

Women also face financial constraints, with limited access to credit, loans and financial services needed for purchasing inputs like seeds, fertilisers and machinery. Gender biases in financial institutions, combined with a lack of collateral, further restrict women’s investment in agriculture.

Additionally, limited access to modern farming technologies and agricultural extension services hampers their ability to adopt new farming techniques and improve productivity. The education gap exacerbates these challenges. 

The burden of household responsibilities is another challenge. Women spend significant time on tasks like collecting water and firewood, household chores and providing care. These demands leave little time for training, productive activities, or community involvement, limiting their full participation in the agricultural sector. Poor infrastructure — such as limited access to markets, transportation and storage facilities — further complicates women’s ability to sell products at fair prices and increases daily workload.

Women’s land rights

Finally, traditional gender roles restrict women’s participation in decision-making at the household, community and national levels, limiting their control over agricultural production and economic activities.

In recent years, significant commitments have been made to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment in agrifood systems. Under SDG 5, countries pledged to implement reforms granting women equal rights to economic resources, including ownership and control over land, property, financial services, inheritance and natural resources. More recently, the Committee on World Food Security endorsed voluntary guidelines on gender equality and women’s empowerment in agrifood systems, providing policy and programming guidance for stakeholders. 

In Africa, the African Continental Free Trade Area adopted its first-ever Women and Youth Protocol, supporting greater inclusion of women in trade agreements. To further these efforts, FAO and its partners launched ‘Commit to Grow Equality’, a global initiative promoting gender equality in agrifood systems through strategic financing, partnerships and targeted investments. However, significant challenges remain. 

Despite these commitments, gender gaps persist in land ownership, access to resources and decision-making power. Various initiatives led by international and national development actors, along with women-focused organisations, aim to drive gender-transformative projects and ensure equal access to resources. Yet, progress has been slow, highlighting the need for more targeted action to dismantle the systemic barriers women face in agriculture.

To empower women farmers and unlock their potential, closing gender gaps in land, finance, technology and extension services is crucial. Strengthening legal frameworks to secure women’s land rights and reforming financial systems to improve access to credit, especially in rural areas, are essential. Investing in girls’ education, expanding access to technology and training, and improving infrastructure will help women boost productivity and balance agricultural work with family responsibilities.

Empowering women

Women’s limited participation in agricultural decision-making often prevents them from influencing policies at the community, regional and national levels. Addressing these gaps is critical for achieving gender equality and driving economic and social progress. Empowering women farmers will enhance agricultural productivity, raise rural incomes and increase resilience to climate change — key factors for sustainable development.

Strengthening their involvement in agricultural markets and cooperatives will provide more opportunities for income generation and greater control over their produce.

Investing in women farmers is investing in the region’s future. According to FAO’s 2023 report, closing gender disparities in agricultural productivity and wages could boost global GDP by 1 per cent and reduce global food insecurity by 2 per cent, lifting 45 million people out of hunger.

Empowering women, who are primary adopters of sustainable farming practices, will also enhance resilience to climate change. Ensuring equal access to resources, services and markets will help women drive rural transformation, improving household incomes, education access and health outcomes.

This year’s International Women’s Day highlighted the urgent need to close gender gaps and promote inclusivity. Achieving a more diverse, equitable and inclusive world requires recognising and valuing the vital contributions of women farmers. By empowering women and ensuring equal access to resources, we can foster sustainable development and create a future where all African women thrive. 

Ms Zimudzi is the FAO representative to Ethiopia and subregional coordinator for Eastern Africa.