Empowering Women in Agriculture: Breaking Barriers for a Thriving Future

Research shows that women with secure land ownership see increased production, higher incomes, and improved well-being for their families and communities. Credit: Miriam Gathigah/IPS

By Esther Ngumbi
URBANA, Illinois, US, Mar 25 2025 (IPS)

On March the 8^th, the world celebrated International Women’s Day. This year’s theme was “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment” and called for actions that aim to unlock power and opportunities for women around the world by leaders across governments, corporate and private sector, academic communities, and civil societies.

Indeed, in a world where women make up almost half of the global population, unlocking women power and doors of opportunities will do much more than benefiting women. It will create thriving communities and societies and continue serving as the foundation of sustainable development and a  prosperous and peaceful society and world.

Arguably, the food, agribusiness and agricultural sector presents many opportunities that can be leveraged by women.   In the United States, for example, the agricultural sector which extends beyond the farm business, contributes around $1.537 trillion to the GDP.

Similarly, across many African countries, the agricultural sector is an important sector and contributor to African countries GDP.  Moreover, the African Development Bank forecasts that by 2030, the African food and agriculture market and economy will be worth $1 trillion.

Although the agricultural sector presents lots of opportunities, extensive evidence shows that women, particular in both the United States and African countries and other emerging countries, still face multitude of structural and gender-based barriers including low levels of formal education, limited technical skills, limited access to assets, finances, information, networks and resources including land.

So, what steps can be taken to break down the barriers and tap onto the opportunities the food, agribusiness and agricultural sector presents?

First, we must ensure that women have equal access and ownership to land that is central for agricultural production. There is evidence showing that women with strong property and land rights contribute to increased production and incomes. Additionally, research suggests that there are positive linkages between secure land access and ownership by women and improved incomes and human wellbeing and many economic benefits.

Second, we must ensure that women have access to information and financial resources they need to ensure that their agricultural practices and agribusinesses are resilient.

The agricultural sector is one of the sectors that continues to be vulnerable to climate change associated stressors including drought, flooding events and pest outbreaks.  With financial resources, women can adopt climate-smart agricultural practices, allowing their agricultural enterprises to thrive. Research has revealed the interlinkages between access to resources and adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices.

Creating resillience can further be enhanced by ensuring that women further adopt newer technologies including technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and robotics.

Third, efforts must be made to ensure that women who venture in agribusiness have access to credit and financial services, technical advisory and business support services and market and trade networks.

Governments can lead the efforts to ensure that legal and regulatory business networks are functional for women.  Some of the interventions that can be rolled out include bundled services that provide women with resources, credit, technical advice and networks they need to grow their enterprises.

Finally, we must continue celebrating and recognizing organizations and initiatives that have time and again continued to step up to empower women and break the multiple barriers that women in agriculture and agribusiness face. Organizations such as WomenFirst International Fund and Development in Gardening, for example have continued to empower women with positive benefits to communities and societies.

The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa has several initiatives aimed at empowering women. The African Development Bank, Mastercard Foundation, The Tony Elumelu Foundation also have initiatives that seek to break down the barriers and tap onto the opportunities the food, agribusiness and agricultural sector presents.

Women play critical roles across the agricultural sector and agricultural value chain, as producers, agribusiness owners and employees.

Empowering them, unlocking their potential and opening multiple opportunity doors for them will go a long way, creating wins for women and societies at large while driving economic growth. Echoing UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres words, “When the doors of opportunity are open for women, everyone wins, and we all thrive”.

Esther Ngumbi, PhD is Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology, African American Studies Department, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign