The power of women and agriculture.
In Senegal, a mother of three worries about when her children's next meal will be.
In Ghana, a farmer depends on rain for her family's livelihood because she cannot afford irrigation for her crops.
In Nicaragua, a woman must choose between buying a tortilla for breakfast or buying the oil she needs to cook it.
Photo Credit: Women Thrive Worldwide
| For the half of the world’s population that lacks secure access to food, scary uncertainties like these are a daily reality. In addition to weakening bodies and families, food insecurity one is of the biggest threats to world economic development.
Investing in agriculture development has long been recognized one of the best solutions for reducing poverty in the long term, whether the goal is to feed individual families or to help economies grow.
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Photo Credit: Steve Evans
| Women Can Feed the World
In the United States, the traditional image of a farmer is a man. Around the globe, however, the typical farmer is a woman. This is especially true in poor countries, where agriculture is mostly women’s work. In parts of Africa--some of the poorest regions in the world that nonetheless have the most potential for agriculture development--women produce 80 percent of the food supply. Yet they receive less than ten percent of credit going to farmers and own an estimated two percent of the land. Moreover, decades of research and experience prove that when women earn extra income they are more likely than men to invest it in education, food and health care for their children, creating a positive cycle of growth that lifts entire generations out of poverty. Helping women farmers access the resources they need to grow food and other crops - such as land and water, fertilizers and seeds, and credit and training - is crucial to ending hunger, improving child nutrition, and helping poor economies grow.
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By empowering women in developing countries to start and grow farms and businesses, rather than simply sending direct food aid abroad, we can help millions of women lift their families and communities out of poverty for good.
Unfortunately, the U.S. and the world do not invest enough in agriculture development. When we do, much needed programs often do not reach women. For example, in many countries, most agricultural extension workers are men, but cultural barriers prevent male extension workers from training women. Therefore, an agricultural training program intended for “everyone” may benefit only men and unintentionally increase inequality and poverty. Thus, it is essential not only that we invest in agriculture development, but also that we make sure it reaches both men and women. A First Step: Passing the Global Food Security Act
The Global Food Security Act is a bill now in Congress that strengthens food security by increasing critical investments, and focusing on small-scale farmers, especially women.
It would:
- Put additional resources into agricultural development and a focus on reaching small scale farmers, especially women, by prioritizing and supporting the central role of women in agricultural production.
- Incorporate land tenure, resource rights, and legal reform programs, especially those targeted at securing equal protections for women.
- Ensure programs and approaches address the special needs of women farmers, women living in poverty, and the needs of all poor people engaged in agriculture or agriculture related enterprises.
Tell Congress to help end hunger, ensure equitable access in agricultural and food industries, and fight poverty by passing the Global Food Security Act. Click here to take action!
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