The need to focus on women farmers' productivity, which can be an effective engine for social change, has become increasingly clear in sub-Saharan Africa. Women have a significant role in farming and post-harvest activities in most countries in the region. Nevertheless, a complex set of rights and obligations reflecting social and religious norms prevail within rural communities; these dictate the division of labour between men and women and act as constraints to women farmers. An understanding of women farmers' role, its importance and these constraints is a prerequisite to devising policies to improve productivity and socio-economic development.