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 & productivity
Inclusive agriculture is essential for resilience, productivity and food security. Women farmers are responsible for around half of the world’s food production, rising to 60 - 80% in developing countries, and play a critical role in household nutrition, community stability and global food safety.
Yet significant productivity gaps persist. Women farmers produce 20 - 30% less than men due to two overlapping forms of exclusion – as both smallholder farmers and as women. Limited access to land, finance, technology and extension services continues to restrict their potential, while social norms often prevent women from cultivating more profitable crops. These structural barriers not only limit opportunities for women farmers but also affect the productivity, innovation and resilience of communities and food systems.
Empowering women farmers and addressing these challenges is therefore fundamental to boosting productivity and strengthening food systems. By enabling women to access the resources, knowledge and opportunities they need, agriculture can become more efficient, inclusive and resilient, helping to reduce hunger and strengthen sustainability.
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