Bangkok (TDI): Amid growing concerns over gender disparity in agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has urged stronger action to ensure equal opportunities for women in the sector.
Marking International Women’s Day 2025, FAO highlighted that nearly 58 percent of the female labour force in Asia and the Pacific works in agriculture section, facing significant barriers such as limited access to land, financial services, markets, and decision-making power.
It said that only 10-20 percent of women hold tenure rights to the land they work on, underscoring the scale of gender inequality in the sector.
Climate change further exacerbates these challenges, disproportionately affecting women in agriculture, it added.
They often bear the brunt of its impacts, such as crop failure, water scarcity, and unpredictable weather patterns, which deepen existing inequalities and threaten their livelihoods and food security, FAO added.
FAO urged greater efforts to overcome these barriers, emphasizing that gender equality is crucial for building sustainable and resilient agrifood systems.
“Empowering women in agriculture is not just about fairness—it is about strengthening food systems and economies,” said Jong-Jin Kim, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific.
“When women have equal opportunities, productivity increases, poverty decreases, and food security improves for all.”
Beijing+30: A milestone for gender equality This year’s theme, “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” holds particular significance as 2025 marks 30 years since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action—a foundational global framework for advancing gender equality, he said.
Expanding opportunities for gender equality and women’s empowerment can accelerate the transformation of agrifood systems, making them more sustainable, productive, and resilient, he added.
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Recognizing this, the UN has declared 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, according to Jong-Jin Kim.
“Women farmers, entrepreneurs, and food producers are vital to ensuring food availability, nutrition, and community resilience,” said Narumon Pinyosinwat, Thailand’s Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives, during the International Women’s Day event, organized by FAO in partnership with UN ESCAP and UN Women.
Lin Yang, Deputy Executive Secretary for Programme at ESCAP, joined the Minister in delivering the opening remarks, while Maria Holtsberg, Deputy Regional Director at UN Women, highlighted the progress and challenges of women’s empowerment in Asia and the Pacific.
The event featured a roundtable discussion with distinguished speakers, including Cai Cai, Chief of the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Section at ESCAP; Miguel Musngi, Assistant Director and Head of the Poverty Eradication and Gender Division at the ASEAN Secretariat; and Cherry Tadeo-Cunanan, Regional Manager for Women’s Economic Empowerment at Grow Asia.
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The discussions focused on findings of the Beijing+30 review, regional efforts to promote gender equality in agriculture, and the role of partnerships in advancing women’s empowerment.
Speakers stressed the importance of accelerating progress through innovative strategies and regional collaboration.
Empowering Women
A key to stronger food systems FAO is committed to achieving food security for all by ensuring access to nutritious food for active and healthy lives, FAO said.
It added that central to this mission is gender equality, which is essential for transforming agrifood systems.
FAO strives to improving women’s access to technology, infrastructure, and leadership roles in agricultural institutions, while also promoting equal rights to services, markets, and decent work, the Organization said.
“Gender equality is not just a goal—it is the foundation for building resilient societies and sustainable food systems,” said Kim.
“We must continue to work together to turn commitments into meaningful action.”
As the world reflects on 30 years of progress since the Beijing Declaration, governments, policymakers, and stakeholders must come together to transform agrifood systems and create opportunities for women and girls to lead in agriculture and sustainable development, Kim emphasized.
