International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026, Theme, Initiatives

The United Nations General Assembly has recently declared 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF 2026) to recognise and strengthen the role of women in agriculture and agrifood systems.

About International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026

The International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF) 2026 is a global initiative declared by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to recognise, empower, and support women engaged across the entire agrifood value chain.

The initiative highlights the contribution of women farmers to food security, nutrition, rural economies, and sustainable agriculture while addressing gender inequalities related to land ownership, finance, technology, and decision-making.

• Aim: The year aims to promote policy reforms, targeted investments, and structural changes to create inclusive and resilient agrifood systems.
• Theme: “Empowered women, transforming agrifood systems.”
• Lead Organisation: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
• Partner Organisations: International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and World Food Programme (WFP).

Meaning and Scope of Woman Farmer

The International Year adopts a broad and inclusive definition of women farmers, covering all women contributing to agrifood systems. Women farmers include:

• Smallholder farmers involved in crop production and food cultivation.
• Agricultural labourers working in formal and informal sectors.
• Pastoralists, fishers, and fish workers involved in allied activities.
• Beekeepers, forest workers, and traditional knowledge holders.
• Agricultural processors, traders, and rural entrepreneurs.
• Women working in agricultural research, innovation, and extension services.

The definition recognises women’s contribution irrespective of land ownership, employment status, or the nature of agricultural work.

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International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 Key Areas of Action

The International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 focuses on removing structural barriers and promoting long-term empowerment of women across agrifood systems.

• Strengthening Legal Rights: Promoting secure land ownership, equal inheritance rights, and official recognition of women as farmers to improve access to resources and opportunities.
• Improving Financial Inclusion: Expanding access to women-friendly credit systems, crop insurance, savings facilities, and financial services tailored to the needs of women farmers.
• Enhancing Technology Access: Ensuring greater availability of digital agricultural services, climate-smart technologies, suitable farm machinery, and improved extension services for women farmers.
• Promoting Data-Based Policies: Developing gender-sensitive agricultural data and using tools such as the Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI) to measure women’s participation, decision-making capacity, and access to resources.

International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 Importance 

Women play a crucial role in global agriculture by contributing to food production, nutrition security, and rural development. The initiative focuses on:

• Recognising women as farmers, entrepreneurs, and decision-makers in agriculture.
• Reducing gender gaps in access to land, credit, technology, and markets.
• Increasing women’s participation in agricultural value chains.
• Promoting climate-resilient and sustainable farming practices.
• Strengthening women’s leadership in rural economies.

Global Economic and Social Significance

Empowering women farmers has major economic and humanitarian benefits. According to FAO assessments:

• Closing gender gaps in agricultural productivity and wages could increase global GDP by around US$1 trillion.
• Reducing inequalities in agriculture could improve food security for nearly 45 million people globally.
• Targeted interventions for rural women could increase incomes for around 58 million people.
• Improved support systems could enhance climate resilience for nearly 235 million people.