Empowering female farmers in crop production systems

Women’s contribution to the agricultural labour force ranges from about 20 percent in Latin America and the Caribbean to over 50 percent in Africa. As critical members of the small family farms, which produce about 35 percent of the world’s food, female farmers have valuable traditional knowledge and are largely responsible for the selection of crop varieties. It has also been made clear to breeders, researchers and extension workers that communities are more likely to adopt improved crop varieties tested and selected by both female and male farmers through this knowledge.

FAO has undertaken a number of initiatives and programmes to strengthen women’s roles in agrifood systems as well as their access to training and resources that can improve farm productivity. In crop production systems, mechanization plays a critical role in achieving the desired gainful outcomes.

FAO recognizes women’s need to access agricultural mechanization in plant production to conduct their farming practices profitably and efficiently. Sustainable agricultural mechanization covers all levels of farming and processing technologies, from simple and basic hand tools to more sophisticated and motorized equipment. Mechanization facilitates agricultural land preparation; seeding and planting; weed control; integrated pest management; precise fertilizer application; irrigation; harvesting; preparation of produce for storage; value addition; and transport.

“Too often women lack access to the equipment that they need for farming and food processing, leading to low land and labour productivity, greater work burden and less time for economic opportunities,” said Mayling Flores Rojas, FAO Agricultural Engineer. She explained further that women also need better access to financial resources, information, training and guidance on ways to use sustainable mechanization to improve their livelihoods.

Facilitating women’s access to technology

The workload of female farmers in some instances has increased as a result of rural-urban migration with a preponderance of men leaving their villages and thereby abandoning farming activities. Female farmers face a number of demands, such as triple work burden of farming, household and community tasks.

In Nepal, where more than 74 percent of the female population works in the agricultural sector, rice, maize, wheat and millets are among the staple food crops. To support women’s access to sustainable agricultural mechanization, FAO has worked closely with the Government of Nepal on a Technical Cooperation Programme in 2019-2021. The project facilitated the creation of two mechanization service centres, led by women, to provide mechanization services in the communities for a fee, generating income and confidence for the participants. Training programmes on business development, machinery operation, maintenance and repair were also organized.

©FAO/Umong Shahi

Increasing efficiency and autonomy

Increasing crop productivity is essential for ensuring food security and nutrition, rural development and natural resource conservation.

Another example of FAO’s work is in Benin, where together with the government, the National Strategy for Agricultural Mechanization was developed in 2020. FAO carried out a project focused on women’s empowerment and income generation through mechanization benefiting 15 rice, cassava and soya processing cooperatives in Glazoué, Savalou and Tchaourou, with the support of the German agency for international cooperation, or GIZ. The female processors gained autonomy and reduced their work burden. By producing higher quality products, they were able to increase their sales, enhancing their business potential as service providers and entrepreneurs.

©FAO Benin/Belty Lokossa

Investing in women

International Women’s Day 2024 is an opportunity to reflect on the vital contribution that women make to agrifood systems. The theme of this year’s Women's Day is ‘Invest in women: Accelerate progress’ and it’s a timely reminder that empowerment and inclusion can create a better world that protects and enhances lives and livelihoods.