International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026

The International Year of the Woman Farmer shines a global spotlight on women in agriculture, highlighting the challenges they encounter while cultivating change. Together we can help bridge the gender gap, paving the way towards achieving food security, gender equality, and sustainability goals for a brighter, more equitable future. Discover how this initiative empowers nations worldwide to enact changes to provide women the same access to land tenure, training, financing, and technology.

Download the Resolution

Women’s Vital Roles in Agriculture

Women are responsible for nearly half of the world’s food production.¹

In 2019, women comprised 38 percent of all agricultural workers in crop, livestock, fisheries, and forestry primary production around the world. ²

Globally, 36 percent of working women work in agrifood systems as of 2019.²

¹U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Fact Sheet: Food Security and Gender.

²FAO. The Status of Women in Agrifood Systems. 2023.

Spotlight on Women in Agriculture

International Year of the Woman Farmer supports international communities in raising awareness of the challenges faced by women in agriculture through the following actions:

Increase Public Awareness of Women’s Role in Farming

Attain Better Awareness of Land Tenure Issues and how they Impact Women Farmers

Attain Better Understanding of the Financial Needs and Constraints of Women Farmers and Ensure Access of Women Farmers to Credit and Markets

Attain Better Understanding of the Technical Needs and Constraints of Women Farmers and Ensure Access to Technical Support and Education

Support the Development of Policies Conducive to the Empowerment of Women Farmers

Create Synergies Among International Activities Related to or Impacting Women Farmers

“From the field to the factory, from the classroom to the boardroom, women are fundamental to the future of agriculture. As leaders, it is our responsibility to make sure the next generation of women farmers have equal access to economic, educational and leadership opportunities, and that we dismantle the unique barriers they face so they can continue to take on the challenges of meeting the world’s growing food, fuel and fiber needs. USDA is proud to have led the U.S. government’s efforts in support of declaring 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, and we thank the many nations that signed on in support. We look forward to working with partners worldwide to scale up efforts that empower and advance women farmers while tackling global food security in 2026 and beyond.”

- Xochitl Torres Small, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture

Global Visionaries

Explore the objectives that shape the International Year of the Woman Farmer.

Land Tenure: Access to land is a basic requirement for farming; therefore, land ownership is the single most important asset for families that rely on agriculture for their livelihoods. Still, there is a vast difference in the share of male and female agricultural landowners in many countries. The percentage of men who have ownership or secure tenure rights over agricultural land is twice that of women in more than 40 percent of the countries that have reported on women’s landownership.
Training: Training plays a critical role in empowering women in agriculture. It equips them with the knowledge and skills needed to adapt to climate impacts, improve productivity, and contribute to sustainable food systems. Focused training, access to networks and inclusion of female extension agents are elements associated with improvements in technology adoption, reduced post-harvest losses, increased climate resilience, and at the same time provides economic benefits, including increasing household income.
Credit: These financial services provide critical opportunities to improve agricultural outputs and farm economies. When new expensive technologies become available, credit is an essential part of gaining access to these opportunities to improve productivity and long-term incomes. Restricting access to these financial prospects forces producers who are unable to bear the risks and upfront costs to be left behind.
Technology: As a result of gender gaps that have restricted land tenure and access to credit markets, women are also at a disadvantage when it comes to accessing new technologies that can increase productivity such as farm equipment, improved plant varieties and livestock breeds, fertilizers, and pest control/land management techniques, and digital technologies. The use of purchased inputs depends on the availability of complementary assets such as land, credit, education, and labor, all of which tend to be more constrained for female-headed households than for male-headed households. Greater access to and adoption of climate-smart technologies and practices could help shrink the productivity gap, increase women farmer’s resilience, and improve rates of food insecurity worldwide.

Empowering Women in Agriculture Through Stakeholder Collaboration

We appreciate the support of our global co-sponsors and supporting organizations.

Co-Sponsors

ALBANIA

ALGERIA

ANDORRA

ARGENTINA

ARMENIA

AUSTRALIA

AUSTRIA

AZERBAIJAN

BANGLADESH

BARBADOS

BELGIUM

BOLIVIA (PLURINATIONAL STATE OF)

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

BOTSWANA

BRAZIL

BULGARIA

BURKINA FASO

BURUNDI

CABO VERDE

CAMBODIA

CANADA

CHILE

CHINA

COLOMBIA

COSTA RICA

CROATIA

CYPRUS

CZECHIA

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

DJIBOUTI

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

ECUADOR

EGYPT

EL SALVADOR

ERITREA

ESWATINI

ESTONIA

FIJI

FINLAND

FRANCE

GABON

GAMBIA

GEORGIA

GERMANY

GREECE

GUATEMALA

GUYANA

HAITI

HONDURAS

HUNGARY

ICELAND

INDIA

INDONESIA

IRELAND

ISRAEL

ITALY

JAMAICA

JAPAN

JORDAN

KENYA

KAZAKHSTAN

KYRGYZSTAN

LAO PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC

LATVIA

LEBANON

LESOTHO

LIBERIA

LIECHSTENSTEIN

LITHUANIA

LUXEMBOURG

MALAYSIA

MALTA

MONGOLIA

MONTENEGRO

MOZAMBIQUE

MOROCCO

MYANMAR

NEPAL

NETHERLANDS (KINGDOM OF THE)

NEW ZEALAND

NORTH MACEDONIA

NORWAY

PAKISTAN

PALAU

PANAMA

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

PARAGUAY

PERU

PHILIPPINES

POLAND

PORTUGAL

QATAR

REPUBLIC OF KOREA

REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

ROMANIA

SAN MARINO

SAUDI ARABIA

SENEGAL

SERBIA

SINGAPORE

SLOVENIA

SOUTH AFRICA

SPAIN

SRI LANKA

SURINAME

SWEDEN

TAJIKISTAN

TIMOR-LESTE

THAILAND

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

TURKIYE

TUNISIA

TURKMENISTAN

UGANDA

UKRAINE

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

UNITED KINGDOM

UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA

URUGUAY

UZBEKISTAN

VIET NAM

YEMEN

ZAMBIA

Supporting Organizations

Government Institutions

Public and Private Entities

World Bank
International Fund for Agricultural Development
International Institute of Rural Reconstruction
International Land Coalition
The Landesa Center for Women’s Land Rights
The African Women in Trade and Investment Centre
Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development
Fair Trade International
The Latin American and Caribbean Network of Rural Women
The World Food Programme

Cultivating a Stronger Future: Call to Action

Investing in women farmers strengthens agricultural systems globally, contributing to a more secure and prosperous future for food security. This “Call to Action” outlines key action areas to support women in agriculture.

Amplifying the Voices of Women Farmers

Outreach: Encourage sharing stories on social media (#womeninagriculture, #IYWF) and press to raise awareness.

Highlighting Policies and Investments Supporting Women Farmers

Financing: Advocate for expanded financing resources specifically designed to meet the needs of women farmers.
Land Access: Support initiatives that help women overcome financial limitations to establish and grow their farms, ensuring equal access to land ownership or use rights.
Social Protection: Support anti-discriminatory policies, gender extension services, access to childcare.
Closing Gaps in Productivity and Wages Through Investment at Scale: Interventions that address multiple inequalities that have been proven to close gender gaps and empower women in agrifood systems should be carefully scaled up, taking into consideration the local context.
Investing in Empowering Approaches: Empower women and, when possible, should use transformative approaches at community and national level to address discriminatory gender norms and attitudes.

Building Strong Networks

Networking Events: Organize and participate in networks (both internationally and domestically) dedicated to women in agriculture. Advocate for including women’s perspectives in agricultural conferences.
Role Models and Mentorship: Promote mentorship programs to connect experienced women farmers with young and aspiring farmers.

Enhancing Knowledge and Skills

Education: Advocate for women farmers to obtain education past primary school to ensure they have the same knowledge base and opportunities as their male counterparts.
Data and Evidence: Collection and use of high-quality data, disaggregated by sex, age and other forms of social and economic differentiation, and the implementation of rigorous qualitative and quantitative gender research are paramount for effectively monitoring, evaluating and accelerating progress on gender equality in agrifood systems.
Information Sharing/Research: Facilitate knowledge exchange among women farmers at local, regional, and global levels.
Developing a Directory: Sharing a worldwide directory that can connect women farmers to existing organizations.
Training: Expand training opportunities in areas like sustainable farming practices to empower women farmers with the latest knowledge.

Promoting Leadership

Leadership Development: Foster opportunities for women farmers to participate in decision making and leadership roles within the agricultural sector.

By implementing these actions, we can create a more inclusive and equitable agricultural landscape, empowering women farmers to reach their full potential and contribute significantly to global food security.

If you want to share or highlight programs you are currently promoting, please email IYWF2026@usda.gov or visit www.usda.gov/iywf.

News, Events and Highlights

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