Empowering women in agriculture for global food security and sustainability: A review

Introduction

Agriculture plays a fundamental role in sustaining global livelihoods and ensuring food security for the rapidly growing world population. In many developing countries, agriculture remains the primary source of employment and income for rural households. Within this sector, women contribute significantly to agricultural labor and participate in a wide range of farming activities including crop cultivation, livestock management, post-harvest processing, and food preparation. Women represent a large share of the agricultural workforce worldwide, particularly in developing regions where smallholder farming systems dominate agricultural production (Agarwal, 2015; Chebet, 2023; Chandrakar et al., 2021; Majumder & Shah, 2017) [1,13,11,29] . Their contributions are essential for maintaining rural economies and ensuring the stability of food systems. Women's participation in agriculture extends beyond farm labour. They play important roles in seed preservation, crop processing, food preparation, and management of household nutrition. These responsibilities place women at the center of household food systems and highlight their contribution to food availability and accessibility. In many rural communities, women are responsible for managing food resources and ensuring that family members receive adequate nutrition (Das & Singh, 2020; Gupta et al., 2019) [16, 23] . Women also contribute to informal agricultural markets and small-scale agribusiness activities, which further strengthen rural livelihoods. Despite their extensive contributions, women farmers frequently face structural barriers that limit their productivity and economic empowerment. Unequal access to land ownership, financial resources, agricultural inputs, and extension services continues to hinder women's participation in agricultural development (Gupta et al., 2017; Upreti et al., 2018; Pattnaik et al., 2018) [22,43,38] . Socio-cultural norms and gender-based discrimination often restrict women's mobility and decision-making authority within agricultural households and communities. These inequalities create a gender productivity gap that reduces the overall efficiency of agricultural systems. Over the past decade, the concept of women's empowerment has gained increasing attention in agricultural development policies and academic research. Empowerment refers to the process of improving women's ability to access resources, participate in decision-making processes, and benefit from economic opportunities. Research indicates that empowering women farmers can significantly increase agricultural productivity, reduce poverty, and improve household nutrition (Jemaneh & Shibeshi, 2023; Ammara et al., 2025; Gupta et al., 2019) [25, 4, 23] . Women's empowerment also contributes to sustainable agricultural development. Women farmers often possess valuable traditional knowledge regarding biodiversity conservation, soil fertility management, and climate adaptation practices. Their involvement in sustainable farming systems can enhance ecological resilience and longterm agricultural productivity (Meena, 2021; Khatri-Chhetri et al., 2020; Glazebrook & Opoku, 2020) [30,27,19] . Given the growing challenges of population growth, climate change, and resource scarcity, strengthening women's participation in agriculture has become essential for achieving global food security and sustainable development.

Role of Women in Agricultural Production

Women play a multifaceted role in agricultural production systems across the world. Their participation spans several stages of the agricultural value chain including crop production, livestock management, post-harvest processing, and agricultural marketing. In many developing countries, women perform labor-intensive agricultural operations such as sowing, transplanting, weeding, harvesting, and processing agricultural products (Meena, 2021; Chebet, 2023; Chandrakar et al., 2021; Patil & Babu, 2018) [30,13,11,36] . Women also play a crucial role in maintaining agricultural biodiversity and supporting family-based farming systems in rural communities (Majumder & Shah, 2017) [29] . Women also play a critical role in livestock management and dairy production. They are responsible for feeding animals, maintaining livestock shelters, milking animals, and caring for animal health. These activities contribute significantly to household income and nutrition through the production of milk, eggs, and meat products (Krishna et al., 2020; Arce et al., 2022; Pandey et al., 2024) [, 5, 32] . Livestock farming also provides opportunities for women to engage in small-scale income-generating activities that support household livelihoods. Allied agricultural activities such as backyard poultry and aquaculture further contribute to women's economic empowerment and household nutrition (Kumar et al., 2021; Bhattacharya et al., 2025) [28,9] . Post-harvest activities represent another important area where women contribute substantially to agricultural production. Women are often responsible for cleaning, drying, storing, and processing agricultural products before they are consumed or marketed. These activities help reduce food losses and improve the efficiency of food systems (Shah et al., 2022; Meena, 2021) [40,30] . Women also participate in agricultural marketing and rural entrepreneurship. In many rural regions, women sell agricultural products such as vegetables, milk, and processed foods in local markets. These marketing activities generate income for households and strengthen rural economies (Gupta et al., 2017; Panchani & Tarpara, 2020; Saini & Sharma, 2024; Patel & Sethi, 2021) [22,34] . Overall, women's participation in agricultural production and marketing plays a vital role in sustaining food systems and rural livelihoods.

Table 1: Major roles of women in agricultural activities

Agricultural Activity

Description Key References Crop production Sowing, transplanting, weeding, harvesting Meena (2021) [30] ; Patel et al. (2019) [35] Livestock management Feeding animals, milking, disease management Krishna et al. (2020); Pandey et al. (2024) [32] Post-harvest processing Cleaning, drying, storage and processing Shah et al. (2022) [40] ; Meena (2021) [30]

Agricultural marketing

Local trading and sale of products Gupta et al. (2017) [22] ; Panchani & Tarpara (2020) Household nutrition Food preparation and dietary management Gupta et al. (2019) [23] ; Das & Singh (2020) [16]

Women Empowerment and Agricultural Productivity

Women's empowerment has a significant impact on agricultural productivity and farm efficiency. When women have access to productive resources such as land, credit, training, and agricultural inputs, they are better able to adopt improved farming technologies and increase crop yields. Gender inequality in access to resources often results in lower productivity among women farmers despite their high levels of labor contribution (Agarwal, 2015; Gupta et al., 2017) [1,22] . Land ownership is one of the most important determinants of women's empowerment in agriculture. Secure land rights encourage investment in agricultural improvements and provide economic security to women farmers. However, women's land ownership remains limited in many rural societies due to legal restrictions and cultural norms (Gupta et al., 2017; Pilgeram & Amos, 2015) [22,39] . Access to credit and financial services also plays a crucial role in enhancing women's agricultural productivity. Financial inclusion enables women farmers to purchase agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, and irrigation equipment. Participation in self-help groups and cooperative organizations has been shown to improve women's financial independence and agricultural performance (Kaiyum, 2023; Paramanandam & Packirisamy, 2015) [26,33] . Agricultural training programs and extension services are essential for improving women's knowledge and technical skills. Training in modern agricultural technologies, climate-smart practices, and farm management techniques enables women farmers to increase productivity and improve farm efficiency (Shahbaz et al., 2022) [41] . Access to agricultural information and extension services further strengthens women's capacity to adopt improved farming practices (Govil & Rana, 2017; Alvi et al., 2021) [20,3] . Increases investment and productivity Agarwal (2015) [1] ; Gupta et al. (2017) [22] Access to credit Enables purchase of farm inputs Kaiyum (2023) [26] ; Panchani & Tarpara (2020) Agricultural training Improves adoption of modern practices Shahbaz et al. (2022) [41] ; Meena (2021) [30] Decision-making participation Enhances farm management efficiency Patel et al. (2017) [34] ; Das & Singh (2020) [16] 4 [23,44,14] .

Women are more likely to allocate resources toward nutritious food, healthcare, and education, thereby improving overall household welfare. Research has also shown that women's participation in agricultural decisionmaking contributes to increased farm productivity and improved food availability (Vemireddy & Pingali, 2021) [44] .

Similarly, studies conducted in Ethiopia demonstrate that women's empowerment significantly improves household food security and reduces vulnerability to food shortages (Jemaneh & Shibeshi, 2023; Das & Singh, 2020) [25,16] . [23] ; Vemireddy & Pingali (2021) [44] Participation in farm decisions Higher productivity Jemaneh & Shibeshi (2023) [25] ; Das & Singh (2020) [16] Market access Increased income and food availability Gupta et al. (2017) [22] ; Shah et al. (2022) [40] Education and awareness Improved dietary diversity Gupta (2024) [21] ; Vemireddy & Pingali (2021) [44] 5. Women and Sustainable Agriculture Women farmers contribute significantly to environmentally sustainable agricultural practices. Their traditional knowledge of crop diversity, soil management, and water conservation plays an important role in maintaining agricultural sustainability. Women often adopt practices such as crop diversification, mixed farming systems, and soil conservation techniques that improve farm resilience and reduce environmental degradation (Meena, 2021) [30] . [19,6,31] . Climate change poses major challenges to agricultural systems worldwide. Women farmers are particularly vulnerable to climate variability due to limited access to resources and information. However, research indicates that women's participation in climatesmart agriculture programs can improve climate resilience and adaptation strategies in farming communities (Khatri-Chhetri et al., 2020; Chanana-Nag & Aggarwal, 2020) [27,10] .

Challenges Faced by Women in Agriculture

Despite their significant contributions, women farmers face numerous challenges that limit their empowerment and productivity. Limited access to land ownership remains one of the most significant barriers affecting women's participation in agriculture (Gupta et al., 2017) [22] . Financial exclusion is another major challenge. Many rural women lack access to formal credit institutions and financial services, which restricts their ability to invest in agricultural inputs and technologies (Kaiyum, 2023) [26] . Social and cultural norms also restrict women's participation in agricultural leadership and decision-making roles. In many rural societies, men dominate farm management decisions even when women contribute significant labor to agricultural production (Shah et al., 2022) [40] . The increasing feminization of agriculture has also resulted in greater workloads and responsibilities for women farmers without corresponding access to productive resources (Pattnaik et al., 2018; Pattnaik & Lahiri-Dutt, 2022) [38,37] . Women also experience heavy workloads due to their dual responsibilities in both household management and farm activities. This labour burden reduces their productivity and limits opportunities for training and education (Hinduja et al., 2022) [24] .

Conceptual Framework www.extensionjournal.com

Conclusion

Women play a vital role in agricultural production, rural livelihoods, and household food security across the world. Empowering women farmers through improved access to resources, education, financial services, and decisionmaking opportunities can significantly enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability. Evidence from recent studies demonstrates that women's empowerment contributes to improved nutrition outcomes, sustainable farming practices, and economic resilience. However, persistent gender inequalities continue to limit women's participation in agricultural development. Addressing these challenges requires gender-responsive policies, inclusive extension services, and institutional support mechanisms that promote equitable access to resources. Strengthening women's empowerment in agriculture is therefore essential for achieving global food security and sustainable agricultural development.

Way Forward

Empowering women in agriculture requires improving their access to land, credit, training, and modern agricultural technologies. Strengthening women's participation in agricultural decision-making, farmer organizations, and market activities can enhance productivity and rural livelihoods. In addition, gender-sensitive policies, capacitybuilding programs, and access to digital agricultural information can help women farmers adopt sustainable farming practices and improve food security. Overall, promoting equal opportunities for women in agriculture will contribute significantly to sustainable agricultural development and global food security.

References

1. Agarwal B. Does group farming empower rural women? Lessons from India's experiments. Journal of Peasant Studies. 2020;47(4):841-872.
2. Altenbuchner C, Vogel S, Larcher M. Effects of organic farming on the empowerment of women: A case study on the perception of female farmers in Odisha, India. Women's Studies International Forum. 2017;64:28-33.
3. Alvi M, Barooah P, Gupta S, Saini S. Women's access to agriculture extension amidst COVID-19: Insights from Gujarat, India and Dang, Nepal. Agricultural Systems. 2021;188.
4. Ammara UE, Farah N, Fatima Q, Shabbir M. Women empowerment in agriculture and its link to food security: Mapping knowledge gaps for future research. Policy Journal of Social Science Review. 2025;3(12):422-422.
5. Arce C, Díaz-Gaona C, Sánchez-Rodríguez M, SanzFernández S, López-Fariña MD, Rodríguez-Estévez V. The role of women on dairy goat farms in southern Spain. Animals. 2022;12(13):1686-1686.
6. Arintyas APRDA. Women, agriculture and villages: A community of empowerment study to achieve wellbeing and sustainable development. Journal of Agrosociology and Sustainability. 2024;2(1).
7. Behl P, Osbahr H, Cardey S. New possibilities for women's empowerment through agroecology in Himachal Pradesh, India. Sustainability. 2024;16(1).
8. Bharti M, Bharti D. Sustainability in agriculture by empowering farm women through ICT. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 2020;19(2):215-215.
9. Bhattacharya S, Das BK, Ekka A, Parida PK, Roy A, Lianthuamluaia L, et al. Empowering women through alternative sustainable livelihood: A case study of ornamental fish farming in India. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 2025;9.
10. Chanana-Nag N, Aggarwal PK. Woman in agriculture and climate risks: Hotspots for development. Climatic Change. 2020;158(1):13-27.
11. Chandrakar K, Das D, Chandrakar DK, Panigrahi RK. Role of women in agricultural production system in India. In: Patra S, Tarai SK, Bhukta D, editors. Economics of sustainable agriculture and environment. 2017:302-307.
12. Chebet B. Food security, productivity and gender inequality. In: Herring RJ, editor. The Oxford Handbook of Food, Politics and Society. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2015. p.273-297.
13. Chebet N. The role of women on agricultural sector growth. International Journal of Agriculture. 2023;8(1):41-50.
14. Connors K, Jaacks LM, Awasthi A, Becker K, Bezner Kerr R, Fivian E, et al. Women's empowerment, production choices and crop diversity in Burkina Faso, India, Malawi and Tanzania. The Lancet Planetary Health. 2023;7(7):e558-e569.
15. Czyżewski B, Prędki A, Brelik A. Importance of women empowerment for eco-efficiency of small farms in Central and Eastern European countries. Sustainable Development. 2024;32(5):5550-5566.
16. Das J, Singh A. Women empowerment and its impact on livelihood and food security of households: A review. Current Journal of Applied Science and Technology. 2020;39(40):19-28.
17. Debnath S, Argade S, Debnath B, Sarkar P. Gender dynamics in small-scale aquaculture-based livelihoods of Tripura, India. Women's Studies International Forum. 2026;114:103225-103225.
18. Fertő I, Bojnec Š. Empowering women in sustainable agriculture. Scientific Reports. 2024;14(1).
19. Glazebrook T, Opoku E. Gender and sustainability: Learning from women's farming in Africa. Sustainability. 2020;12(24):1-20.
20. Govil R, Rana G. Demand for agricultural information among women farmers: A survey from Karnataka, India. Review of Agrarian Studies. 2017;7(1):133-148.
21. Gupta P. A systematic review on women's participation in agricultural work and nutritional outcomes. The Indian Economic Journal. 2024.
22. Gupta S, Pingali PL, Pinstrup-Andersen P. Women's empowerment in Indian agriculture: Does market orientation of farming systems matter? Food Security. 2017;9(6):1447-1463.
23. Gupta S, Vemireddy V, Pingali PL. Nutritional outcomes of empowerment and market integration for women in rural India. Food Security. 2019;11(6):12431256.
24. Hinduja NA, Lakshmi T, Prasad SV, Sumathi V, Naidu GM. Constraints faced by farm women in home and agricultural activities in Telangana state. Andhra www.extensionjournal.com Pradesh Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 2022;8(1):3137.
25. Jemaneh SA, Shibeshi EM. Women empowerment in agriculture and its effect on household food security in Southern Ethiopia. Agriculture and Food Security. 2023;12(1).
26. Kaiyum A. Impact of self-help groups on women empowerment in Dhubri District, Assam. International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts. 2023;11(2):452-459.
27. Khatri-Chhetri A, Regmi PP, Chanana N, Aggarwal PK. Potential of climate-smart agriculture in reducing women farmers' drudgery. Climatic Change. 2020;158(1):29-42.
28. Kumar M, Dahiya SP, Ratwan P. Backyard poultry farming in India: A tool for nutritional security and women empowerment. Biological Rhythm Research. 2021;52(10):1476-1491.
29. Majumder J, Shah P. Mapping the role of women in Indian agriculture. Annals of Anthropological Practice. 2017;41(2):46-54.
30. Muhaimin AW, Retnoningsih D, Pariasa II. The role of women in sustainable agriculture practices: Evidence from East Java Indonesia. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. 2023;1153(1).
31. Pandey S, Mishra S, Jha AK, Pandey HO. Women in Indian dairy farming business: Significance, challenges and way forward. International Journal of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry. 2024;9(1):701-708.
32. Paramanandam DA, Packirisamy P. Impact of micro enterprises on women empowerment. Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy. 2015;9(4):298-314.
33. Patel SJ, Kumar R, Patel AS, Patel NR, Parmar VN. Involvement of farm women in decision making regarding dairy farming in Gujarat. Indian Journal of Hill Farming. 2017;30(1):45-58.
34. Patel S, Singh YK, Singh B. Factors affecting the role of women in farming and allied activities. Indian Research Journal of Extension Education. 2019;19(23):108-111.
35. Patil B, Babu VS. Role of women in agriculture. International Journal of Applied Research. 2018;4(12):109-114.
36. Pattnaik I, Lahiri-Dutt K. Do women like to farm? Evidence of growing burdens of farming on women in rural India. Journal of Peasant Studies. 2022;49(3):629651.
37. Pattnaik I, Lahiri-Dutt K, Lockie S, Pritchard B. The feminization of agriculture or agrarian distress? Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy. 2018;23(1):138-155.
38. Pilgeram R, Amos B. Exploring how women engaged in sustainable agriculture access farmland. Rural Sociology. 2015;80(1):16-38.
39. Shah A, Lahiri-Dutt K, Pattnaik I. Women's role in agriculture and food security: Learnings from Gujarat and West Bengal. Ecology Economy and Society. 2022;5(1):89-107.
40. Shahbaz P, ul Haq S, Abbas A, Batool Z, Alotaibi BA, Nayak RK. Adoption of climate smart agricultural practices through women involvement in decision making. Agriculture. 2022;12(8).
41. Tyagi R. Role of women in agricultural development and strategies for empowerment in India. Contemporary Social Sciences. 2022;31(1):39-47.
42. Upreti BR, Ghale Y, Shivakoti S, Acharya S. Feminization of agriculture in the Eastern Hills of Nepal. Sage Open. 2018;8(4).
43. Vemireddy V, Pingali PL. Seasonal time trade-offs and nutrition outcomes for women in agriculture: Evidence from rural India. Food Policy. 2021;101.