Honoring Women’s Impact in Agriculture
Ending hunger and poverty hinges on empowering both men and women within agrifood systems. Agriculture and food systems confront an array of unprecedented challenges today. It is of the greatest importance to nourish a growing global population amidst ongoing and emerging crises, spanning economic, energy, environmental, food, and social realms. These challenges, including conflicts, natural disasters, market volatility, and health emergencies, are compounded by climate change, resource depletion, urbanization, dietary shifts, and changes in livelihoods.
In light of these hurdles, it’s imperative to construct inclusive, sustainable, and resilient agrifood systems. This ensures the agricultural sector can operate at its fullest potential and enhance efficiency. Empowering rural women, men, girls, and boys is paramount to achieving this goal.
As the world celebrates International Women’s Day, it’s crucial to recognize the invaluable role women play in agriculture. According to the FAO Report, although women constitute 43 percent of the global agricultural workforce, they encounter substantial discrimination regarding land and livestock ownership, equitable compensation, participation in decision-making bodies, and access to credit and financial services.
The path to empowerment
Removing gender-specific barriers in agriculture, as highlighted by the FAO, not only empowers women to realize their full economic potential but also addresses global hunger. With approximately 820 million undernourished individuals, predominantly in developing countries where women play a crucial role in food production, granting females equal access to resources and education could boost their agricultural output by up to 30 percent. This increase has the potential to alleviate hunger for 150 million people.
- Access to Resources: To empower women in agriculture, we must ensure equal access to land, credit, and technology. Governments and organizations can implement policies that prioritize women’s access to resources and provide training and support to enhance their skills and knowledge.
- Capacity Building: Investing in education and training programs tailored to women in agriculture is essential for their empowerment. By providing technical assistance and leadership development opportunities, we can equip women with the tools they need to succeed as farmers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders.
- Promoting Gender Equality: Creating an enabling environment that promotes gender equality is critical for women’s empowerment in agriculture. This includes challenging harmful gender norms and stereotypes, promoting women’s participation in decision-making processes, and ensuring equal pay and opportunities for women in the agricultural sector.
- Fostering Networks and Support Systems: Building networks and support systems for women in agriculture can help address the challenges they face and promote collaboration and knowledge-sharing. Initiatives such as women’s farmer groups, mentorship programs, and online platforms can provide women with a supportive community and valuable resources for their agricultural endeavors.
Every day, we can bridge the gap
On International Women’s Day and every day, let’s celebrate the resilience, innovation, and leadership of women in agriculture. Their contributions are invaluable not only in feeding the world but also in driving sustainable development and social progress. As we honor the achievements of women in agriculture, let’s also recommit ourselves to advancing gender equality and ensuring that every woman and man has the opportunity to thrive and succeed in agriculture and beyond.
What does Farmtopia do to assist?
Farmers are facing significant challenges like labor shortages, rising costs of essential resources, and the impacts of climate change, making it difficult for them to adapt and succeed. They need to be resilient and resourceful to overcome these obstacles. Farmtopia, a project funded by the EU, aims to empower both female and male farmers to thrive by providing Agricultural Digital Solutions (ADSs) and access to finance, empowering them to invest in their operations, adopt new technologies, and build resilient livelihoods.
In conclusion, it’s worth reflecting on the profound wisdom of the saying:
“If you teach a man to farm, his family will eat.
If you teach a woman to farm, the community will eat.”