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Women account for nearly 40 per cent of the over 916 million people working in agri-food systems globally. [iStockphoto]
Imagine an Africa where all farmers have equal access and control of land, finance, mechanisation, knowledge and freedom to make key agricultural decisions. Rural incomes would rise, livelihoods improve, and fewer families would go hungry.
Food systems would be more productive, and communities better equipped to withstand climate shocks. This is the kind of transformation Africa needs. Women account for nearly 40 per cent of the over 916 million people working in agri-food systems globally. In sub-Saharan Africa, they make up almost half of the agri-food systems workforce. Yet, women are more than just a labour force; they offer invaluable expertise, leadership and resilience.
Women are custodians of agricultural biodiversity. For generations, they have selected, preserved and exchanged seeds, safeguarding local crop varieties that sustain household nutrition and help farming systems adapt to climate change. They guide critical decisions on which crops are grown for sustenance and commercial markets.
