On March 6, IFDC hosted a dynamic and inspiring webinar to celebrate International Women’s Day under the theme “Women at the heart of sustainable agriculture: Innovations and solutions for a resilient future.” The event gathered industry experts, practitioners, innovators, and advocates to explore the crucial role of women in agricultural development and strategies for their empowerment.
Discussions from the webinar highlighted women’s pivotal contributions to sustainable agricultural practices, showcasing practical examples of innovative strategies that enhance productivity, promote environmental stewardship, and foster community development.
“By fostering inclusive innovation and strengthening support systems for women farmers, we can build a more resilient, productive, and food-secure world for future generations.”
Dr. Caroline Agamala, IFDC Senior Soil Scientist
Veyrl Adell, IFDC Director of Market Systems Development, opened the webinar, saying, “At IFDC, we firmly believe women are the foundation of sustainable agriculture—as farmers, agripreneurs, innovators, and community leaders. Despite their essential contributions, many women face barriers to land ownership, finance, inputs, and market access. Today, we explore concrete solutions to accelerate gender equality in agriculture.”
Eva Sanou, Gender Inclusion Coordinator for the 2SCALE program and IFDC’s Global Gender Specialist, emphasized, “IFDC’s advocacy is rooted in diagnostic studies and analysis of land conflicts, social norms, and exclusionary practices, enabling effective collaborative actions. Empowering women is crucial for a sustainable and equitable future.”
During the panel discussion, speakers discussed the strategic importance of integrating gender perspectives into agricultural programs.
Dr. Rassidatou Moustafa, Deputy Chief of Party of the ACMA3 program, explained, “Through the ACMA3 program, IFDC’s advocacy aims to create a conducive environment that supports women’s entrepreneurship, addressing challenges like limited access to resources, employment, and representation.”
Consolée Barikoré, IFDC Gender Specialist in Burundi, added, “Women are not just beneficiaries; they are active agents of change. We need to create enabling environments that support their leadership and facilitate their participation.”
Highlighting the program’s interventions on gender, Bertille Biaou, Gender and Inclusive Agribusiness Officer from CARE for ACMA3, noted, “For efficiency and sustainability, advocacy actions in the ACMA3 program are synergized with forums to facilitate the interaction between local authorities agricultural stakeholders, and supported by women’s and youth agricultural organizations.”
The webinar showcased how targeted innovations, such as improved farming techniques and technology, significantly enhance women’s productivity and livelihoods.
Dr. Caroline Agamala, IFDC Senior Soil Scientist, stated, “Women are indispensable in the success and sustainability of global agricultural systems. Recognizing and elevating their role is not just a matter of equity but a necessity for sustainable development. By fostering inclusive innovation and strengthening support systems for women farmers, we can build a more resilient, productive, and food-secure world for future generations.”
This idea was reiterated by Mary Kachollom Hwyere, Multi Country Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Expert of the Soil Values project, who observed that “By investing in women, we are investing in a more sustainable and prosperous future for all.”
Kouadio Amavi, Head of ICT Promotion for ACMA3, emphasized that digital tools and agricultural technologies can significantly improve women’s productivity and access to information. He noted that it is crucial to ensure that these technologies are accessible and affordable for women in rural areas.
The webinar also featured compelling testimonials from women farmers who have benefited from IFDC projects.
Agnes Fasehun, Managing Director of SwanCape Farms, a partner of the HortiNigeria program, said, “We need to work together across sectors to create a more equitable and sustainable agricultural system.” She called for stronger partnerships between governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the private sector, and women’s organizations.
“It’s not enough to simply include women; we need to address the specific challenges they face, such as limited access to resources, technology, and markets,” explained Adaora Akojuru, Chief Executive Officer of Beta Agric Ventures LTD, another partner of HortiNigeria.
She stressed the importance of tailored training programs, access to credit, and the promotion of women-led cooperatives.
Kpakoute Kaouchara, a producer and participant in the ACMA3 program, testified to the positive impact of IFDC’s interventions on her cooperative. She underscored the importance of capacity building, the establishment of savings and credit groups, and the use of the DreamSave application, a digital tool facilitating group and individual credit management.
Kaochara noted that the application enabled her cooperative to expand its sales, including internationally through e-commerce platforms, and pointed out how digital tools can help with group management, access to inputs, and product marketing.
The webinar reaffirmed IFDC’s unwavering commitment to empowering women and advancing sustainable agriculture.
By placing women at the forefront, IFDC not only drives innovative and inclusive agricultural practices but also calls on stakeholders to champion and scale women-led solutions—paving the way for a more equitable, resilient, and food-secure future.
