Agriculture

International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026

Women farmers play a vital role across agrifood systems—from smallholder farms to large-scale operations—contributing to global food production, biodiversity protection, and rural economies. Yet, their contributions are not always fully recognized or supported, as barriers related to access to resources, visibility, representation, and social norms continue to shape their productivity and economic opportunities, as well as the sustainability of food systems. 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.

In response, 2026 has been designated by the United Nations as the International Year of the WomanFarmer, led by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The year serves as a platform for the adoption of effective policies and actions to address the barriers women farmers face across agrifood systems, to highlight their contributions, and to promote gender equality, empowerment and inclusion in agricultural development and related education—demonstrating how empowering women farmers benefits everyone.

BASF supports the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026

It's time to shift our narrative from vulnerability to empowerment, recognizing that women farmers are key to unlocking sustainable food systems.

Hilary Barry

Founder and Secretary General of the LadyAgri Impact Investment Hub

Deep dive into:
Women farmers & climate change

Women farmers are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change, largely due to the same barriers that limit their access to land, resources, services and decision-making, and reduce their productivity.

According to the FAO report Unjust Climate, female-headed households in developing economies face greater economic losses from extreme weather, losing on average 8% more income from heat stress and 3% more from flooding than male-headed households.

As climate risks intensify, these inequalities threaten livelihoods and food security, with climate change projected to push an additional 158 million women and girls into extreme poverty by 2050.

At the same time, evidence shows that growth in small-scale agriculture is two to four times more effective at reducing hunger and poverty than growth in other sectors, with women farmers playing a central role in strengthening resilience and supporting sustainable food production.

Addressing gender inequalities in agriculture and strengthening the role of women farmers will therefore be essential to improving climate resilience and ensuring sustainable and inclusive food systems.

Previous deep dives and general information

Women farmers & productivity

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.

Collage featuring women farmers - The text in the image reads: Empowering women would significantly increase incomes of 58 million people and the resilience of 235 million.

Picture and quote of Steve Werblow - Text reads: When we invest in women farmers, we're not just supporting individuals - we're driving economic growth, improving food security, and creating a more resilient and sustainable future.

Women farmers & gender gap

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.

Picture of Nisha Onta with a quote from her: "Women are the backbone of the farming industry."

Women farmers of the world

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.

Vivian Sia

President of Women in Agribusiness (WOMAG) Asia

References

The status of women in agrifood Systems FAO
Family Farming Knowledge Platform FAO
The status of women in agrifood Systems FAO
Facts & Figures UN WOMEN
Empowering women farmers to end hunger and poverty OXFAM
Food Systems report | FAO
Empower women FARM AFRICA
Levelling the Field: Improving Opportunities for Women Farmers in Africa World Bank Group
33 million women grow food on plots in sub-Saharan Africa. Greener farming can boost their earnings - study The Conversation
It's time to put a spotlight on the long hidden face of agriculture. Meet the incredible women who produce half of all you eat. Visible Farmer
The professional status of rural women in the EU European Parliament
Empowering women farmers for sustainable agriculture in the EU HUN REN
The evidence of gender inequality in access to land is overwhelming. For example, in Kenya only 6% of women hold titles to land, while 96% of rural women work on family farms. In Malawi, only 3% of women are registered owners of commercial land, yet they represent 70% of the agricultural workforce. In Uganda, women account for the largest share of agricultural production but own just 5% of the land. See: UNDP (2016), The African Human Development Report 2016: Accelerating Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Africa. Africa Human Development Report 2016 UN DP cited in Policy Brief: Incorporation of Women’s Economic Empowerment and Unpaid Care Work into regional policies: Africa act:onaid
Running out of time. The reduction of women’s work burden in agricultural production. FAO (2015)
Policy Brief: Incorporation of Women’s Economic Empowerment and Unpaid Care Work into regional policies: Africa act:onaid
Sharing the load Gender & Development Network cited in Policy Brief: Incorporation of Women’s Economic Empowerment and Unpaid Care Work into regional policies: Africa act:act:onaid

Women farmers & equal access

Deep dive coming soon

International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026

Deep dive into:
Women farmers & climate change