Women in Agriculture

Her Land

All farmers need quality land to yield a good harvest. Women in the developing world are 5 times less likely than men to own land, and their farms are usually smaller and less fertile.

In Africa,
women's groups are
pooling savings to buy land from village elders. These groups are creating profitable vegetable and fruit farms, earning more money for everyone.

In India, many states now include women's names on land titles, ensuring that both wife and husband are recognized as legal owners.

Her Time

Many women work 6 hours more a day than men on tasks like cooking, cleaning, and caring for children, which limits the time they have to farm.

New seeds and tools can reduce time-consuming tasks like weeding and scaring away birds, chores that fall on women and girls.

Simple, low-cost devices
such as treadle pumps, cook stoves, and hand-crank mills can reduce the time that women spend on daily
chores by 4 hours.

Her Tools

Women have much less access to financial tools that can help them invest in their farms and be more productive.

Women farmers receive currently just 5% of
available credit.

Nearly 5 million women in rural Africa and Asia are pooling millions of dollars to buy better seeds and tools.

Her Knowledge

Knowledge is one of the most important tools a farmer can have. Women have less access to technology and experts who have critical information to help them be more productive.

In Uganda, women are increasing their incomes by using mobile phones to learn about plant diseases and get the latest updates on market prices.

We need more women
experts in agriculture. 15 African countries have increased the number of women farming experts by 50% in just 8 years.

Everyone Gains

If women farmers have same access to tools and opportunities as men, they will produce more food for their families, and the world.

Read more about how the foundation's Agricultural Development initiative is supporting women farmers.

Her Family

When women grow more and earn more, they spend it on food, clothing, healthcare, and education for their children.

Her Nation

Greater yields from women farmers can increase food security and reduce
dependence on aid.

Our World

Greater agricultural output could reduce global hunger by
150 million people.