Agriculture
International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026
Women farmers play a vital role in food systems, biodiversity protection, and rural economies — from smallholder farms to large-scale agricultural systems. They produce a significant share of the world’s food, sustain family farming, and play a central role in nutrition, resilience and rural livelihoods.
Yet their contributions are not always fully recognized or sufficiently supported across agrifood systems. Barriers related to access to resources and services, visibility, representation and social norms continue to shape women farmers’ productivity, wellbeing and economic opportunities, as well as the resilience and sustainability of food systems.
It's time to shift our narrative from vulnerability to empowerment, recognizing that women farmers are key to unlocking sustainable food systems.
Women Farmers of the World
Women farmers play a central role in sustaining agrifood systems around the world, accounting for around 37% of all farmers globally and managing approximately 15% of small farms worldwide.
They contribute across agricultural production systems as farmers and producers, smallholders and family farmers, seasonal farm workers and rural entrepreneurs.
Their contributions extend beyond production to leadership and community roles that support food security, livelihoods and nutrition for families and rural communities.
However, women spend an average of 4.2 hours a day on unpaid work and carry out over 75% of all unpaid care work globally, with this share rising even higher in certain countries.
As women make up nearly half of the world’s population, increasing their efficiency would have a significant global impact. Uplifting women isn’t about politics; it’s about humanity. We need to implement existing policies and equip them.
Throughout the year, this landing page will bring together insights, stories and actions through a series of deep dives into the topics shaping the lives of women farmers and will advocate for more visibility and empowerment of women farmers of all ages.
Deep dive into:
Women farmers & Gender gap
Gender gaps continue to shape the realities of women farmers across agrifood systems. Despite being responsible for around 50% of global food production, women farmers own less than 20% of agricultural land globally, reflecting persistent inequalities in access to land and economic resources.
These gaps have broader economic consequences: closing gender gaps, including wage disparities, could contribute up to USD 1 trillion to the global economy and increase global GDP by around 1%.
Addressing gender inequality in agriculture is therefore not only a matter of equity, but also essential for food security, economic growth and sustainable development.
Women Farmers & Productivity
Deep dive coming soon
