The International Year of the Woman Farmer: A Call for Gender Equity in Agriculture

The United Nations has declared 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF 2026), aiming to emphasize the vital roles women play in agrifood systems around the globe. This initiative represents an opportunity to frame gender equality in agriculture not merely as a social issue but as a pressing economic and food security imperative.

“The International Year of the Woman Farmer is a crucial opportunity to raise awareness of just how important women are to global food security,” stated Natasha Hayward, Program Manager for the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP). She noted the financial barriers female farmers and agribusiness entrepreneurs often face, highlighting that many are excluded from fundamental services such as basic banking.

“Land rights often restrict women’s access to credit, insurance, and other essential services. Even when they do have access, financial products frequently do not cater to women’s specific needs, who typically seek smaller loans for starting small-scale operations,” Hayward explained. “Women are often farming with one hand tied behind their backs compared to their male counterparts.”

The Significance of Empowering Women Farmers

The challenges faced by women in agriculture have substantial ramifications for global food systems. In low-income countries, women produce nearly 80% of the food. Research indicates that providing equal access to productive resources could significantly boost farm yields.

“Empowering women farmers enhances food supply, income, livelihoods, human and social development, and economic growth. If women had equal access to resources, farm yields could increase by up to 30%, potentially reducing global hunger by up to 17%,” Hayward remarked.

Moreover, evidence suggests that women are more inclined to prioritize family nutrition in their production choices and are likely to reinvest their earnings into household food security and education. This creates a positive cycle that further reduces the agricultural gender gap.

An Uneven Playing Field

Women in agriculture face a multitude of constraints, placing them at a structural disadvantage compared to men. These barriers include:

• Unequal land rights
• Limited access to agricultural inputs and extension services
• Disproportionate unpaid care and domestic responsibilities
• Restrictive social norms limiting decision-making power
• Weaker market access due to mobility issues

Consequently, farms managed by women are, on average, 24% less productive. “The gender gap can be particularly glaring in contexts where women play vital but often overlooked roles in food production, processing, and marketing throughout many nations, especially across Africa, where women make up more than two-thirds of the agrifood workforce,” Hayward highlighted.

One major challenge for policymakers is the scarcity of sex-disaggregated data, which complicates the identification of gender gaps and the formulation of effective interventions.

Hayward emphasized, “Achieving greater equity in agriculture not only requires ensuring that women have access to the same resources but also the creation of conditions that enable them to fully utilize those resources. This often necessitates engaging men to challenge traditional views about women’s roles and to address family care responsibilities that limit women’s time for farm work.”

Strategies for Empowerment

The Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) places women’s empowerment at the heart of its mission for agricultural development and food security. “We conduct thorough analyses at the project design stage to understand the unique barriers women face and develop targeted actions to address these inequalities, including promoting women’s leadership in agricultural organizations, enhancing access to finance, and ensuring access to inputs,” Hayward stated.

Operating as a donor coordination platform, GAFSP focuses on hard-to-reach countries and markets, ensuring that marginalized groups, including women and youth, receive comprehensive support. More than 40% of GAFSP beneficiaries are women, and over 80% of its country-led projects align with the World Bank Gender Tag standard—signifying rigorous gender analysis and targeted interventions.

In addition, GAFSP has invested $20 million in projects aimed at supporting climate-resilient and diversified agriculture for 420,000 farmers in climate-sensitive regions like Bangladesh. Every initiative includes training for women and seeks to educate men on the value women contribute within households through innovative, gender-focused programs adapted from the Gender Action Learning System (GALS).

As we approach the International Year of the Woman Farmer, the need for gender equality in agriculture has never been more urgent. Empowering women in farming not only contributes to enhanced food security but also drives economic growth and sustainable development in communities worldwide.