The Beijing Platform for Action, adopted in 1995 by 189 countries, promotes gender equality and the empowerment of women worldwide. In the agriculture sector, it offers policies and recommendations to ensure women’s contributions are recognized and supported.
This article highlights the vital role of women in agriculture-led economies and IFDC’s commitment to and efforts in fostering sustainable, inclusive growth.
Why engage women?
Today, women contribute only around 40% of farm labor while 343 million people in 74 countries face acute food insecurity. And yet, women earn just 82 cents for every dollar earned by men and have less access to opportunities that could make them and their communities more food secure.
This raises the question—What if more women could be actively engaged?
However, women’s and girl’s engagement will vary because they do not make up a homogeneous group. Their differences must be taken into account, with consideration for rural women, indigenous women, women entrepreneurs, female-headed households, girls in early marriages, and others. Thus, contextualized solutions are essential.
For instance, Lantan Alhassan, leader of the Nagarta Manoman Mata Garin Ali women’s group, shared how the HortiNigeria program is transforming female farmers’ adoption of hybrid vegetable seeds:
“Now, we sell seedlings to farmers both within and beyond our communities. Sometimes we purchase the seeds ourselves; other times, farmers provide their preferred varieties. They trust the quality of our seedlings and rely on us to support their cropping cycles.”
Why are women important to agriculture?
Every human being contributes value, but not all contributions are visible or recognized. This is especially true in agriculture. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), if interventions could empower at least half of small-scale women producers, 58 million people would see higher incomes and 235 million people would benefit from increased resilience. Moreover, closing the gender gap in agriculture could improve food security for 45 million people.
Maria’s story illustrates this impact. A mother of three in Mozambique, she found stable employment at LevasFlor through assistance from the Triple Resilience (3R) program:
“Before I got this job, I struggled to provide for my children. I never imagined having a stable income. But now, I feel secure. I can take care of my family and even dream of a better future. This job has given me more than just an income—it has given me hope.”
Why now?
Since 1995, political, economic, and technological shifts have reshaped opportunities for achieving gender equality. While limited access to equipment and digital illiteracy have widened disparities in some countries, technology has accelerated progress in others. The programs implemented by IFDC have demonstrated that when women gain access to technology and innovation, ripple effects drive broader economic and social benefits. Thus, now is the right time to broaden these efforts.
Monique Goudjanou, sales manager at Coopérative Prospérité, exemplifies this transformation. After receiving training on digital marketing through the ACMA3 program, she now uses WhatsApp to boost the cooperative’s sales:
“Thank God for social networks! I can advertise my products and connect directly with customers.”
Mariam Assambo, a Ghanaian entrepreneur, had a similar experience after refining her business model with the 2SCALE program:
“During the training, I learned that social media can enhance sales. Now, I receive orders from Tamale, Bolgatanga, and even Accra! Payments are made via mobile money services, and we use a courier for deliveries. On average, we sell about 700 pieces daily—both online and offline—and even more during events.”
The questions—Why engage women? Why are women important to agriculture? and Why now?—will remain relevant until access, recognition, and leadership opportunities are truly equal. Reducing disparities in income, decision-making, and soil health management will lead to stronger, more resilient agriculture-led economies—co-driven and co-powered by women.
