Empowering Women for Global Food Security

Food security, as defined by the FAO (2004), rests on three pillars: the availability, accessibility, and utilization of food. Within this framework, gender plays a critical role. Women are central to food systems, they are farmers, processors, traders, and household nutrition managers. Yet, despite their immense contributions, systemic gender disparities continue to hinder progress toward equitable and sustainable food security.

In developing countries, women represent about 43% of the agricultural labor force, with this figure exceeding 50% in some regions of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia (FAO, 2021). However, their access to productive resources such as land, credit, extension services, and technology remains significantly lower than that of men. Globally, women own less than 20% of agricultural land. In Nepal, only 14% of landowners are women, while in Ghana, the figure drops to just 10% (World Bank, 2023). These disparities in landownership not only restrict women's productivity and income but also limit their decision-making power in agriculture and household food management.

Closing the gender gap in agriculture could yield transformative benefits. According to FAO estimates, if women had the same access to resources as men, farm yields could increase by 20–30%, lifting to 150 million people out of hunger. Empowering women through land rights reforms, gender-sensitive extension services, targeted credit programs, and inclusive agricultural policies is crucial. Moreover, recognizing and valuing unpaid care and farm work by women can enhance their agency and improve nutritional outcomes for entire communities.

Achieving gender equality in agriculture is not just a matter of fairness, it is a strategic imperative for ensuring global food security. Sustainable progress demands that women are no longer seen as marginal participants, but as equal partners in shaping resilient and equitable food systems.

Empowering Women in Agriculture for Food Security and Economic Growth

Women are indispensable to the agricultural economy, particularly in rural areas of the Global South. Their labor spans the entire food value chain, from subsistence farming and cultivating cash crops like tea, cotton, and coffee to managing livestock and fisheries. In developing nations, women contribute to 60–80% of food production. In South Asia, countries such as Pakistan and Bangladesh have seen women’s participation in agriculture triple since the 1980s. Yet, despite performing up to 75% of farm labor, women receive just 26% of agricultural income, largely due to their underrepresentation in land ownership and formal economic structures (Oxfam, 2023; IFPRI, 2022).

Persistent structural barriers restrict women's productivity in agriculture. In India, only 12.8% of operational landholdings are managed by women. Access to credit remains minimal, only 10% of agricultural loans are directed toward women. These constraints are compounded by a lack of access to mechanization, forcing many women to rely on time-consuming manual labor. As a result, yields from female-managed farms are 20–30% lower than those managed by men (FAO, 2021), not due to ability but due to unequal resource access.

Beyond fieldwork, women play a vital role in ensuring household food security. They are responsible for 90% of food decisions at home, influencing dietary diversity and nutrition outcomes. Educated mothers are 30% more likely to ensure their children receive a balanced diet, significantly reducing malnutrition risks (Lancet, 2021). Traditional food preservation techniques like sun-drying and fermentation further enhance year-round food availability. When women control income, studies show child nutrition improves by 15% (World Bank, 2023). However, when women contribute over 50% of household income, the diversity of food may decline due to time constraints from added economic burdens (IFPRI, 2022). Empowering women with resources, education, and policy support is essential to achieving sustainable agriculture and resilient food systems.

Empowering Women for Resilient and Inclusive Food Systems

Achieving sustainable food systems requires the meaningful inclusion and empowerment of women across agricultural value chains. Women are not only key contributors to food production but also essential agents of change in ensuring household nutrition, community resilience, and climate adaptation. However, unlocking their full potential calls for transformative interventions at both policy and grassroots levels.

Policy frameworks must prioritize gender equality in land ownership. Land titling programs, such as those successfully implemented in Rwanda, have doubled female land ownership since 2010, demonstrating the power of legal reform. Financial inclusion is equally vital. Gender-responsive microcredit initiatives like Bangladesh’s Grameen Bank have empowered millions of women to invest in productive assets, agricultural inputs, and small-scale enterprises. Furthermore, targeted education and agroecological training programs help women adopt sustainable practices that improve yields while preserving ecosystems.

At the grassroots level, solutions are taking root. Backyard gardening programs, such as Nigeria’s “Women in Agriculture” initiative, are boosting household food security and incomes. Women-led cooperatives like Kenya’s dairy groups enhance collective bargaining and reduce exploitation. Digital inclusion is another game-changer. Mobile platforms such as India’s Kisan Suvidha app provide women farmers with real-time market prices, weather updates, and advisory services, enhancing decision-making and income.

Yet women continue to face systemic barriers in food supply chains. In Africa, they dominate informal food retail, managing 60% of street-level sales but often under exploitative conditions. In West Asia, only 5% of women participate in formal agri-trade due to gender biases and mobility constraints (ILO, 2023).

Despite these challenges, successful examples offer hope. In Ghana, shea butter cooperatives have increased women’s incomes by 40%, while in Vietnam, female-led rice mills have improved market access and value chain integration. Scaling such initiatives can help create more equitable, sustainable, and resilient food systems worldwide.

Conclusion

Women are indispensable to achieving global food security and sustainable agriculture. Their roles span food production, household nutrition, and economic development, yet they remain significantly disadvantaged in access to land, finance, technology, and markets. This systemic inequality not only limits their individual potential but also undermines the effectiveness of food systems. Bridging the gender gap is therefore not only a matter of justice but a strategic imperative for resilience and productivity.

Evidence shows that if women had the same access to resources as men, agricultural yields could increase substantially, lifting millions out of hunger and poverty. Empowering women through land rights, targeted credit, inclusive policies, and grassroots initiatives such as cooperatives and mobile technology can dramatically improve food availability, dietary quality, and community well-being. Additionally, recognizing women's unpaid labor and supporting their participation in food value chains will ensure more equitable outcomes.

As climate change, conflict, and economic volatility intensify, women’s empowerment must be central to agricultural transformation. By placing gender equity at the heart of food security strategies, we can create more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient food systems that benefit everyone. The path to ending hunger and achieving sustainable development is only possible when women farmers are recognized, supported, and empowered as full partners in progress.

References: FAO; World Bank; IFPRI; Oxfam; Lancet; ILO

Please note that the views expressed in this article are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of any organization.

The writer is affiliated with the National Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan and can be reached at amnashafique54@gmail.com

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