March 6, 2026
From grassroots knowledge to market intelligence, innovation and trade, recognizing the vital role of women working in Ag is not just a celebration, but a necessary step toward fairer food systems—and world. This March 8, as the UN launches a tribute to the hands powering our supply chains, four trailblazing women share their hard-won insights on how the pulse sector can lead the way toward a more inclusive, and productive, global value chain.
Beyond the harvest, the International Year of the Woman Farmer celebrates the deep-rooted knowledge and physical labor that sustain our global supply chains.
This year will celebrate the first-ever International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF) – an appreciation of the vital role women play in agriculture, launched by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) with the goal of closing gender gaps and empowering women working in agri-food systems. It calls for “collective action and increased investments” to pave a path to a more equal, inclusive, and more sustainable value chain.
The phrase, “woman farmer”, refers to “women and girls engaged along agri-food value chains”, including smallholder producers, laborers, processors, traders, and women in agricultural sciences — to name a few.
Before we hear the experiences of women farmers themselves, we want to highlight the obstacles women still face in agribusiness, and explore blind spots the industry retains towards gender inequality. The data on these many inequalities tell their own unfortunate story.
According to Fair Trade, women make up 40% of the agricultural labor force worldwide – a figure that rises to over 50% in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Unfortunately, that hard work is rarely reflected in the rewards they receive.
Women are paid $0.78 for every $1 earned by their male counterparts, according to Fair Trade, who also point out that land ownership – the lifeblood of financial independence in agriculture – is heavily weighted against women. Less than 15% of farmland owners worldwide are women.
Who does this imbalance benefit?
In the end, it benefits no one, as all stakeholders in agribusiness lose out by ignoring gaps in equality. One FAO study suggests that closing equality gaps between men and women could raise global GDP by as much as a trillion dollars.
Huge growth in productivity can arise from giving women equal access to resources — yields can improve between 20%-30%, according to another FAO study. Such boosts in productivity could lift 150 million people out of hunger, demonstrating that closing access gaps is not only fair but also a clear benefit to all, and an important step towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as poverty eradication, zero hunger, and gender equality.
As fierce supporters of women in the pulse value chain, we joined the celebration of the IYWF and spoke with female members, who brought us observations from their time in agribusiness and insights from their hard-won positions of responsibility.
“Women like my mother were the backbone of the farm, doing every job that needed doing — driving tractor, hauling crops, milking cows, keeping the books, running errands, feeding the hired help, and holding the family together — yet they were rarely called the farmer or named first when succession was discussed.
Their contribution was treated as an extension of wifely or maternal duty rather than as leadership, and that pattern was so common in her generation that it became almost invisible. By contrast, my niece has the credentials and the title — an Agri-business degree and responsibility for insurance, finance, accounting, media, HR, and office management — yet she still had to work twice as hard as any man to prove she could also handle field work.”
“The bias has shifted shape more than it has disappeared: where women of my mother's era were taken for granted in all the 'unseen' roles, women of my niece's generation can step into formal management but are still made to prove, over and over, that they deserve the same recognition in the field that their brothers and male cousins receive by default.”
“We still don't typically see women's names on contracts, but we do see them closely managing quality and delivery... While more women are stepping forward, we are still a long way from any type of gender equity, especially when you look at who is formally recognized as the producer and who controls land, capital, and top-level decisions.”
“Be intentional about how you build skill, credibility, and power. Seek out mentors — men and women — who truly support women in leadership and are willing to open doors for you.
Get involved in industry groups, pulse associations, and trade events so your reputation isn't limited to your family's operation. Connect with other farm and ag-trade women, compare notes on pay, titles, and expectations, and don't let anyone gaslight you into thinking that bias is 'all in your head.'
Start succession conversations early; don't assume that working hard will translate into a fair ownership or leadership role. Ask directly about equity, titles, and decision-making authority, and treat those topics as business issues rather than personal favors. If the home operation won't recognize your value, be willing to build your career elsewhere and bring that leverage back later — or not at all."
"When we first entered the industry, it was predominantly male. Over time, however, this dynamic has gradually shifted. The growing presence of women across different levels of the value chain is a very positive and encouraging development."
"Financing remains one of the most significant challenges. Greater access to credit, targeted subsidies, and expanded educational opportunities would undoubtedly accelerate growth and inclusion. That said, these improvements require a gradual and structured approach."
"In some cases, farms have indeed been passed down to the second generation, including daughters. In other cases, rather than direct succession, we see young women entering the industry inspired by successful female leaders. There are many strong and admirable women making a significant impact in the global pulse sector."
"Never stop believing in your own potential. Success in this industry is not defined by gender — it is defined by commitment, discipline, and vision. There is room for everyone in the pulse sector today, and women are playing an increasingly important and influential role. Gender should never be seen as a limitation."
"For decades, women have sustained Indian agriculture — 2026 must ensure their leadership is fully recognized across the value chain.
"What is evolving now is structured participation beyond cultivation — in farmer organizations, research, trade, and logistics. As India's pulse ecosystem becomes more globally integrated, opportunities for women are expanding across the entire value chain."
"The key challenge remains access — access to land ownership, formal finance, working capital, and structured market networks. Capability is not the constraint; access is. In a sector as strategic as pulses, improving financial inclusion and market integration can unlock significant economic value led by women."
"View agriculture and pulses not only as cultivation, but as a strategic global business. Understanding quality standards, pricing cycles, and international demand is essential. Women who combine grassroots knowledge with market intelligence can confidently lead in both farming and trade.
"When women are fully integrated across production, finance, and trade, the entire agricultural economy becomes stronger and more resilient."
"Women are deeply involved in different aspects of the agricultural value chain — crop production, food processing and value-addition, marketing and selling produce in local marketplaces. A large share of the agricultural workforce is female: 70% of the agricultural workforce in Nigeria, according to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development."
"While some women have improved their status and income through empowerment programmes, broadly speaking, their financial rewards and economic power have not yet fully caught up with the scale of their contributions. Major structural barriers women face in agriculture in Nigeria — access to land, finance and credit, education, technology and decision-making — all of these persist."
"I had intended to build a small food processing start-up to add value to our sorghum since we are the largest producer in Africa, yet I am constrained by a lack of funds for basic machinery — even with my expertise as a food scientist. This is one among numerous cases as it relates to different sectors of the agricultural value chain."
"Access to higher-status positions along the pulse supply chain remains more limited for women than participation at the primary production level. Women are highly active in small-scale trading and retail sales of pulses, especially in local markets, but are highly underrepresented in higher-value, capital-intensive, and decision-making roles within formal supply chains."
Iywf 2026 / women in pulses / gender gap in agriculture / pulse value chain / smallholder farmers / inclusive food systems
Disclaimer: The opinions or views expressed in this publication are those of the authors or quoted persons. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Global Pulse Confederation or its members.
