Empowering Women Farmers: Addressing Challenges and Recognising Their Role in Family Farming
On International Women’s Day, WFO launches its new Position on Women Farmers, urging action to recognise their contributions to family farming and address the challenges they face
8 March 2025 | Rome, Italy – On International Women’s Day 2025, the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) unveils its new Position on Women Farmers, reinforcing its commitment to gender equity in agriculture and recognising women farmers’ central role in global food systems.
This position, derived from the WFO Policy on Women in Agriculture (2022), is the result of WFO’s consensus-based policy development process, ensuring it reflects the voices and priorities of women farmers worldwide.
Women Farmers in Family Farming: A Pillar of Food Security and Rural Development
Family farming remains the foundation of global food production, accounting for over 80% of the world’s agricultural output. The Global Action Plan of the United Nations Decade of Family Farming (2019-2028) underscores the vital role of family farming in achieving food security, rural development, and sustainability. Within this framework, women farmers are indispensable—they contribute not only to agricultural production but also to the economic and social fabric of rural communities.
Women farmers play a pivotal role in family farming, balancing their responsibilities in agribusiness while also serving as the primary caretakers of family farms. Despite their critical role, their contributions remain unpaid, unrecognised, and invisible in economic, social, and policy frameworks.
They continue to face barriers to land ownership, financial resources, education, and decision-making platforms, which hinder their full participation in agriculture. Many also experience discrimination, exclusion, and, in far too many cases, violence—both within their communities and in accessing markets and resources.
These barriers do not just hold back women farmers; they limit the potential of entire societies to grow and prosper.
Empowering Women Farmers: A Strategic Imperative, Not Just Equity
Addressing these barriers is not only a matter of fairness—it is critical to achieving global food security, resilient agricultural systems, and economic sustainability.
“Empowering rural women farmers is not only a matter of equity but a strategic imperative for achieving global food security, sustainable agricultural systems, and economic resilience,” stated Arnold Puech d’Alissac, WFO President.
The new WFO Position highlights the essential contributions of women farmers, examines the challenges they face, and presents key policy recommendations to enhance and better recognise their role in family farming.
Looking Ahead: The International Year of Women Farmers 2026
With the International Year of Women Farmers approaching in 2026, this position lays the groundwork for global action and policy reform. This milestone presents a unique opportunity to mobilise international attention and ensure greater recognition of women farmers’ contributions to family farming and sustainable food systems.
WFO is actively working to bring visibility to women farmers’ contributions, advocating for policies and programmes that equip women in agriculture with knowledge, tools, and opportunities. Through farmer-led advocacy and global collaboration, WFO will continue to champion rural women farmers, ensuring their voices shape the future of family farming and sustainable food systems.
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