Women farmers: who they are and what they do
Women farmers are all women working in agrifood systems in different capacities across all segments of value chains. This includes farmers, producers, peasants, family and smallholder farmers, seasonal laborers, fishers, fish workers, beekeepers, pastoralists, foresters, processors, traders, traditional knowledge holders, women in agricultural sciences, formal and informal workers, and rural entrepreneurs. They encompass women in all their diversity, including young and older women, Indigenous women and women in local communities, women with disabilities, refugee and displaced women, and others.
The definition is inclusive of women in both formal and informal work, recognizing their contributions regardless of land ownership or employment status. It reflects the diverse and essential roles all women play in sustaining agrifood systems including through leadership, care and domestic work, while supporting food security, contributing to economic prosperity, and improving nutrition and livelihoods for their families and communities.
#YearoftheWomanFarmer