In a landmark move aimed at promoting gender equality and transforming global agricultural systems, the United Nations has officially declared 2026 as the International Year of Women Farmers. This declaration underscores the vital, yet often underappreciated, role of women in agriculture and seeks to address the systemic barriers they face across the globe.
Recognising the Unseen Workforce
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), women constitute over 40% of the global agricultural workforce. In many developing countries, especially in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, this figure can rise to over 60%. Despite this, women farmers often have limited access to land ownership, credit, training, technology, and decision-making platforms. This declaration by the UN is not just symbolic it’s a call to action to recognise and rectify these disparities.
The resolution, introduced jointly by several nations including India, Kenya, Mexico, and Norway, received overwhelming support at the General Assembly. It builds on the momentum of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 2 (Zero Hunger), Goal 5 (Gender Equality), and Goal 13 (Climate Action).
A Gendered Reality in Agriculture
Women farmers are often at the frontline of climate resilience and sustainable agricultural practices. They are the seed-keepers, food producers, water conservers, and caregivers who balance productivity with ecological care. Yet, societal norms, discriminatory land tenure systems, and exclusion from policymaking continue to limit their potential.
The FAO has noted that if women had the same access to productive resources as men, they could increase yields on their farms by 20-30%, potentially lifting 100-150 million people out of hunger. The 2026 declaration aims to amplify such facts, pushing governments and organizations to implement reforms that are not only just but also economically strategic.
Objectives of the Declaration
The International Year of Women Farmers will focus on:
- Policy Reform: Encouraging countries to adopt gender-sensitive agricultural policies and land rights legislations.
- Capacity Building: Supporting training, education, and access to technology and finance for women in agriculture.
- Awareness Campaigns: Promoting global recognition of women’s contributions to food security and environmental sustainability.
- Data Collection: Improving gender-disaggregated data to design better interventions.
- Grassroots Participation: Creating platforms for rural women to voice their challenges, share innovations, and influence policy.
India and the Women Farmers’ Movement
India, a key proponent of this resolution, has a rich and complex history of women’s involvement in agriculture. Despite being primary cultivators, Indian women often lack land titles and face wage disparities. Initiatives like the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), the Kudumbashree mission in Kerala, and the Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) are steps in the right direction but need scaling up and wider policy backing.
Speaking at the UN after the resolution’s adoption, India’s Permanent Representative highlighted the need to move from tokenism to transformation: “Women farmers are not a marginal category—they are central to our agricultural economies and the future of our food systems.”
Bridging the Gap Globally
The declaration is also expected to spark innovation and partnerships at multiple levels from international organizations and NGOs to academic institutions and agribusinesses. Public and private sectors alike are being encouraged to invest in tools, techniques, and programs that address the specific needs of women farmers.
Moreover, the year will include global summits, local forums, art and storytelling projects, exhibitions, and documentary screenings to engage broader audiences. Schools and universities will be encouraged to incorporate modules on women in agriculture to sensitise future generations.
A Step Toward Inclusive Food Systems
Critics have often pointed out that international declarations without follow-through amount to mere rhetoric. However, advocates are optimistic that the 2026 declaration, if implemented with sincerity, could be a pivotal moment. By turning the spotlight on rural women, the UN hopes to not only honour their contribution but also dismantle structural barriers that hinder inclusive growth.
In the words of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, “The future of agriculture is not just about technology and climate it is about justice. Recognising and empowering women farmers is one of the surest paths to achieving food security, gender equality, and sustainable development.”
As 2026 approaches, the world will watch closely not just to celebrate women farmers, but to ensure they receive the rights, recognition, and resources they have long been denied. This is more than a declaration it is a long-overdue affirmation that women farmers are the backbone of global food systems, and their empowerment is key to a resilient and equitable future.
Sources:
- https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/empowering-women-in-agriculture-for-food-security/article69675539.ece/amp/
- https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/4046445?ln=en
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