Women form the backbone of agriculture in most global aspects, ranging from agricultural production to processing and marketing. In most parts of the world, and especially developing regions, nearly half the agricultural workforce is comprised of women. For instance, about 50% to 60% of agricultural production in Sub-Saharan Africa emanates from women; however, their role in decision-making, ownership, and leadership is marginal. 

Despite such key contributions, women in agriculture face numerous challenges, including but not limited to a lack of access to education, finance, and land ownership. These critical areas need to be tackled for women to be empowered and to have an eventual transformative impact on agricultural productivity and the sector’s growth. The following article discusses in detail how education, access to finance, and leadership roles can help women become drivers of growth in the agriculture sector. It provides examples of successful initiatives and organizations that have made great strides in empowering women.

The world’s population is expected to grow to 9.7 billion by 2050, and increasing agricultural productivity will rank very high on the list of things needed to ensure food security. This is where women farmers can and should play a significant role. Studies have indicated that agricultural production can be increased by 20% to 30% with equal rights to resources, thereby increasing the overall output and efficiency in the sector. This points to the need for women’s empowerment through policies and programs touching on education, finance, and leadership. 

One of the most critical ways of empowering women in agriculture. Women farmers have less access to agricultural training, new technologies, and best practices than their male counterparts. Lack of knowledge confines their productivity and lowers their ability to adopt innovative farming techniques. FAO has also estimated that if women had equal access to education and extension services, as many as 150 million fewer people in the world would live in conditions of hunger. Several initiatives have successfully showcased the positive impacts that educating women in agriculture can bring. In Tanzania, for example, the Tanzania Gender Networking Program has so far trained over 5,000 women farmers in sustainable farming of crops, with increased productivity and income rising by 30%. Apart from these training programs, Women for Women International trains women on modern farming methods, financial inclusion, and business management skills that make them more competitive and resilient. Access to agricultural education improves productivity and builds women’s confidence for leadership roles within their communities and cooperatives. Educated women are better positioned to stand up for themselves, participate in household decision-making processes, and effect changes within the agricultural sector. 

One significant setback for women in agriculture is access to finance. In most rural settings, women often do not own land, which is usually a collateral requirement for loans. Besides, social norms, coupled with gender bias within financial institutions, further narrow women’s access to credit, savings accounts, and other financial services. According to the World Bank, women in rural areas worldwide have access to formal financial services of about 30%, compared to men at about 50%. 

This disparity constrains their potential to invest in better farming inputs, technologies, and equipment that raise their productivity and incomes. These financial barriers need to be addressed if women farmers are to be empowered. Success has come in this regard through specific organizations and initiatives that have made some affirmative offerings of financial products, microfinance services, and capacity-building programs to women. For instance, One Acre Fund is a nonprofit organization that works with smallholder farmers across Africa to provide financing, training, and access to high-quality seeds and fertilizer. About 50% of the beneficiaries are women, and their yields have increased by more than 50%.

Furthermore, extending this platform for digital finance is a new frontier in promoting increased women’s access to finance. Mobile banking services such as M-Pesa have enabled people, especially in countries like Kenya and Uganda, to access loans and savings accounts without visiting physical banks. The services have empowered millions of women to invest in their farms, improve their financial security, and raise their contribution to the agricultural sector.

Involving women in leadership for agricultural transformation will go a long way in enhancing growth within the sector. Women bring different experiences and problem-solving strategies, especially in improving food security, sustainability, and community building. However, the representation of women in leadership positions among agricultural organizations, cooperatives, and government bodies is minimal. According to the UN Women report, less than 20% of women hold leadership positions in agrarian decision-making worldwide. Kenya Women Microfinance Bank has conducted leadership training for women and helped them establish agricultural cooperatives. These cooperatives have helped them reach better markets and improve their bargaining positions. When empowered with leadership, women can advocate for policies that respond to particular needs and problems women farmers face. Also, women leaders tend to lead the call for more inclusive agricultural practices for the livelihood of all farmers. 

Land ownership and access to resources remain significant challenges. Lack of land ownership is a major factor hindering women’s empowerment in agriculture. Cultural barriers and legal frameworks make them incapable of owning or inheriting lands, though they are responsible for much farm work. Due to their lack of land ownership, women often struggle to access credit, make farm investments, or participate in agricultural decision-making.

 In reality, agricultural policies and programs typically prioritize men despite women making up a significant portion of the labor force. These gender biases reduce women’s access to different resources, services, and opportunities that could have increased their productivity and improved their livelihoods. Note that in developing countries with high levels of inequality between men and women, addressing gender disparities becomes an even more critical issue. 

Some organizations have done remarkably well addressing these issues through innovative programs and partnerships to empower women. 

Heifer International—This organization has enacted multiple projects within East Africa to better empower women farmers through education, training, and resource access. For instance, the organization’s East Africa Dairy Development Project has ensured that at least 400,000 women gain market access, enhance their milk output, and increase their family income.

African Women in Agricultural Research and Development—The African Women in Agricultural Research and Development Award was a program designed to offer leadership and mentorship opportunities to African women employed in the agricultural sector. The program has trained more than 3,500 women to assume leadership roles in research, extension services, and agribusiness.

 Empowering Women for a Prosperous Agriculture Sector Equipping women in agriculture is not only about gender equity. Still, it has also become a significant determinant of agricultural productivity, food security, and economic growth. Addressing the stumbling blocks against education, finance, and leadership roles that women often face may unlock the complete productive potential of female farmers and, hence, help transform the agricultural sector. Investors, governments, and development organizations establish a facilitating environment in which women can take the lead to accomplish triumph. Given proper support and resources, women will take their rightful place at the forefront of shaping a more sustainable, prosperous future for the global agriculture industry.