Fourth-year Economics student, University of Zambia, Zambia
December 22, 2024
Agriculture
has long been considered the cornerstone of economic growth and food security
in many developing nations. However, despite its pivotal role, agricultural
policies have often overlooked the unique challenges faced by women farmers,
contributing to a cycle of inequality and underdevelopment. These policies,
while aimed at boosting productivity and ensuring food security, often exclude
or inadequately support the very demographic that forms a significant portion
of the agricultural workforce—women. This article examines the ways in which
agricultural policies are failing women farmers and what changes are necessary
for more equitable and inclusive agricultural development.
The Gender Disparity in Agriculture
In many countries, including Zambia, women play a critical role in agriculture, engaging in various aspects of farming, from production to marketing. However, systemic barriers hinder their productivity and economic empowerment. Women farmers frequently have limited access to critical resources such as land, credit, technology, and training compared to their male counterparts (FAO, 2011).For
instance, land ownership laws in Zambia often favor men, making it difficult
for women to secure land rights, which restricts their ability to invest in
their farms and adopt modern practices (World Bank, 2024). Additionally,
financial services often require collateral that many women lack, further
exacerbating economic inequalities (ZLA, 2024).
Insufficient Support and Training
Agricultural policies often emphasize large-scale, industrial farming, which
benefits commercial farms predominantly owned by men. Such policies fail to
adequately support smallholder farmers, most of whom are women. Training
programs and agricultural extension services are often male-centric, ignoring
the dual roles women play as farmers and caregivers (IFAD, 2024).
Without
tailored support, women farmers struggle to access knowledge on crop
diversification or pest management, which results in lower yields and limited
income (AGRA, 2024).
Limited Access to Technology and Resources
Access to agricultural technology is critical for enhancing productivity, yet
women farmers face significant barriers to adoption. For example, cultural
norms and gender biases often exclude women from training sessions or
technology distribution programs (AWARD, 2024).
Agricultural
input programs, such as seed and fertilizer distributions, are often designed
without considering women’s needs, further limiting their potential (CGIAR,
2024).
The Impact of Policy Gaps
The absence of gender-sensitive policies leaves women farmers vulnerable to
inequality. Current agricultural strategies rarely consider the specific
challenges faced by women, and the lack of gender-disaggregated data further
limits informed policymaking (UN Women, 2018). Policies that fail to address
these disparities perpetuate unequal resource distribution and opportunities
(CARE International, 2024).
Towards a More Inclusive Agricultural Policy
To address these disparities, policymakers must ensure land reforms give women
equal rights, enabling them to make long-term investments (World Bank, 2024).
Expanding access to credit by designing systems that don’t rely on traditional
collateral can further empower women farmers (ZLA, 2024). Tailored training
programs and equitable access to agricultural technologies are critical to
closing the gender gap (IFAD, 2024; AWARD, 2024).
Conclusion
Agricultural
policies that fail to recognize and address the needs of women farmers
contribute to a cycle of inequality that limits agricultural productivity and
economic growth. To build a more equitable and productive agricultural sector,
governments and organizations must adopt inclusive policies that empower women.
By ensuring women farmers have access to resources, training, technology, and
financial support, societies can unlock the full potential of their
agricultural workforce and foster sustainable development.
About the Author
References
1. Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO), 2011. The
State of Food and Agriculture 2010-2011: Women in Agriculture. Rome: FAO.
Available at: https://www.fao.org/3/i2050e/i2050e.pdf
[Accessed 15 December 2024].
2. World Bank, 2024. Gender and Land Rights.
Washington, DC: The World Bank. Available at: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/gender/brief/land-rights
[Accessed 15 December 2024].
3. Zambia Land Alliance (ZLA), 2024. Advancing Equitable Land
Rights for Women in Zambia. Available at: https://www.zla.org.zm/ [Accessed 15 December 2024].
4. International Fund for Agricultural
Development (IFAD), 2024. Investing in Rural People in Zambia. Rome: IFAD.
Available at: https://www.ifad.org/
[Accessed 15 December 2024].
5. Alliance for a Green Revolution in
Africa (AGRA),
2024. Women Farmers and Inclusive Agricultural Policies. Nairobi:
AGRA. Available at: https://agra.org/
[Accessed 15 December 2024].
6. African Women in Agricultural
Research and Development (AWARD), 2024. Empowering Women Farmers Through Agricultural
Innovations. Nairobi: AWARD. Available at: https://awardfellowships.org/
[Accessed 15 December 2024].
7. CGIAR Research Program on Policies,
Institutions, and Markets, 2024. Gender Bias and Technology Adoption in
Agriculture. Washington, DC: CGIAR. Available at: https://pim.cgiar.org/
[Accessed 15 December 2024].
8. UN Women, 2018. Turning Promises into
Action: Gender Equality in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
New York: UN Women. Available at: https://www.unwomen.org/ [Accessed 15 December 2024].
9. CARE International, 2024. Bridging the Gender Gap
in Agriculture: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa. London: CARE
International. Available at: https://www.care.org/
[Accessed 15 December 2024].
10.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), 2018. Gender Equality Strategy
2018-2021. New York: UNDP. Available at: https://www.undp.org/ [Accessed 15 December 2024].
11.
Southern African Development Community (SADC), 2024. Gender Inclusion in Rural
and Agricultural Policies. Gaborone: SADC. Available at: https://www.sadc.int/ [Accessed
15 December 2024].