Take five: “Rural women must be viewed as key agents of change and leaders in agriculture”

Mr. Nabil Gangi, Deputy Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), was a key speaker at the Beijing+30 Regional Review Meeting, titled “Reviewing 30 Years of Beijing Commitments to Accelerate Gender Equality in the UNECE Region,” held on 21-22 October 2024. Mr. Gangi reflected on the importance of closing the gender gap in the agricultural sector and its contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). In this interview, Mr. Gangi discusses practical measures that governments, the private sector, and international organizations should prioritize to address gender inequalities in agri-food systems. He also highlights the critical role of gender-responsive agricultural policies and access to land in bridging this gender gap.

What structural barriers hinder rural women's access to resources, employment, and equitable opportunities in the agricultural sector?

Women are vital contributors to food systems, constituting more than 40 per cent of the agricultural labor force. Their roles encompass farming, food processing, and nutrition, making gender equality in food systems crucial. However, the Beijing+30 Regional Review Meeting emphasized the need to address systemic barriers that persistently challenge rural women. 

These barriers stem from entrenched social perceptions and practices, particularly in rural areas, that assign women an inferior status, make them solely responsible for care work, and overlook their contributions to food security. Consequently, rural women face restricted access to essential resources, including land, credit, knowledge, and decision-making platforms. Many agricultural policies fail to address gender disparities, perpetuating inequality. 

Addressing these barriers requires holistic, gender-sensitive policy reforms, investments in rural infrastructure, and empowerment programmes. Empowering women in food systems is not only a moral imperative but for FAO - also a strategy to boost agricultural productivity, as women frequently reinvest in their households and communities. 

Given that rural women account for over 40 percent of the agricultural workforce but earn significantly less than men, what role do gender-responsive agricultural policies and access to land play in bridging this gap?

Gender-responsive agricultural policies and access to land are crucial in bridging the gender gap in agriculture. These measures promote equal access to resources and secure land tenure rights, enabling women to invest in and enhance their farms. 

FAO persistently supports the integration of gender considerations into agricultural extension services, to ensure that women receive training on improved farming techniques, pest management, market access, and financial literacy, which can lead to increased productivity and higher incomes. Thousands of women across the region benefited through such trainings, but we still have a long way to go to ensure that the systems function sustainably in a gender-responsive way. Our practice suggests that when women participate in agricultural policy discussions, they can address challenges specific to their needs, such as access to labor-saving technologies or equitable distribution of resources. This inclusive approach leads to targeted interventions that benefit women, their families, and communities but also contribute to agricultural growth.

What specific practical measures should governments, private sectors, and international organizations prioritize to address gender inequalities in agri-food systems effectively?

To ensure that food systems contribute to the achievements of the Beijing Platform for Action and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we must implement policies that recognize and address the women’s specific needs and roles in agriculture, including access to resources, training, and technology; ensure women’s land ownership rights and expand access to financial services; invest in education and skill development programmes to empower women with knowledge on sustainable agricultural practices, nutrition, and food security; include women in decision-making processes at all levels and support of women-led cooperatives to strengthen their market presence and negotiation power. 

Accurate data collection and rigorous qualitative and quantitative gender research are paramount to ensuring that women’s contributions and challenges are adequately addressed. It is crucial to move beyond simply improving rural women’s access to sustainable livelihoods and tackle the underlying norms that perpetuate inequalities. In these efforts, rural women and girls from diverse backgrounds must be viewed as key agents of change and leaders in households, agriculture, and decision-making. 

How does FAO's "Commit to Grow Equality" initiative aim to transition from conceptual frameworks to actionable commitments, and what are some concrete outcomes expected from this global effort?

The Beijing+30 review provides critical momentum for accelerating progress, but commitments must be translated into action. The “Commit to Grow Equality” (CGE) initiative, launched by FAO and its partners at the UN General Assembly on 24 September 2024, seeks to accelerate the achievement of gender equality in agri-food systems through financing, investment, and partnerships. 

CGE calls on all actors - governments, the private sector, the United Nations or other stakeholders - to take action to close the persistent gaps between women and men in agri-food systems, and to invest in and scale up approaches that can enhance women's agency and empowerment. It emphasizes transforming agri-food systems to become more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable by 2030. 

The Commit to Grow Commitments Matrix allows stakeholders to make actionable commitments in areas where progress can meaningfully advance gender equality. FAO member states have already joined this initiative, and we anticipate that it will make a tangible difference in the lives of women and girls. 

What changes can be achieved during the International Year of the Woman Farmer, marked in 2026, and how can these efforts contribute to achieving the SDGs, particularly SDG 1, which aims to end poverty, SDG 2, which seeks to end hunger, and SDG 5, which calls for achieving gender equality?

The International Year of the Woman Farmer presents a unique opportunity to catalyze transformative changes in women’s empowerment in agriculture, food security, and gender equality. 

This global initiative can have far-reaching impacts on the achievement of several SDGs. For example, by facilitating women farmers’ access to modern agricultural practices, technology, and financial literacy, we can enhance agricultural productivity, climate resilience, and market access, while also shifting gender dynamics in rural economies and lifting women and their families out of poverty. FAO has been generating cases from the region that illustrate the success stories of rural women, from creating cooperatives and running agricultural enterprises to grasping agriscience.

The International Year of the Woman Farmer can highlight the vital role women play in agriculture by showcasing successful women farmers and leaders. This visibility can shift societal attitudes and encourage greater investment in women-focused agricultural programs. Governments, organizations, and communities must work together to ensure that women have the support, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive and lead sustainable agricultural systems.