The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), together with the World Food Program (WFP), which are Rome-based UN agencies, ended up making a clear-cut statement on International Women’s Day 2026. Highlighting the vital role that women farmers play when it comes to sustaining global food systems, the event also showed that improving women’s land, finance and resources is highly important and essential when it comes to food security, rural lives and also resilience to climate.
It is proven that women make up nearly 43% of the agricultural workforce throughout the world; however, regardless of these statistics, women always face systemic barriers, such as land rights which are unequal, credit which they have limited access to, and more than anything, the exclusion they face when it comes to making decisions. Representatives highlighted that empowering women farmers is directly linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals’ achievement, which mainly targets those suffering from hunger and poverty, as well as gender equality.
FAO Director-General QU Dongyu noted that women’s work in agriculture is indispensable for feeding populations, yet their contributions are frequently undervalued. “Supporting women with training, technology, and legal protections not only improves food production but also enhances nutrition, resilience, and community well-being,” he said. IFAD Vice President Gérardine Mukeshimana emphasised that when women farmers gain secure land tenure and financial services, crop yields increase and rural households become more food secure.
Farmers’ organisations from all throughout regions like Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Pacific held discussions which were featured in the event; sharing practical solutions to overcome barriers was one of the main topics which were covered. Programmes where women’s cooperatives and community networks increased access to markets, agricultural inputs, and technical knowledge were highlighted by the panellists. Cindy McCain, WFP Executive Director, continued to highlight the importance of women’s leadership in food distribution and nutrition programmes, mainly in nations facing severe hunger crises.
Practical demonstrations showcased women-led innovations in sustainable agriculture, such as climate-resilient crops, irrigation techniques, and agroforestry practices. These approaches improve yields and protect ecosystems, reduce vulnerability to climate shocks, and strengthen long-term food security. Exhibitions highlighted stories of women agricultural entrepreneurs who are successfully managing small-scale farms while supplying local and regional markets.
Establishing initiatives which are mainly focused on legal empowerment, the UN agencies’ aim is to provide women farmers with enough knowledge on their rights, access to dispute resolution and also to support them in advocacy. These types of actions are expected to create an open environment where women can invest in production, improve their lives, and contribute to national food security strategies.
At the end of this event, FAO, IFAD and WFP, all three, reconfirmed their commitment to making sure to transform global food systems by empowering women farmers, which will strengthen access to not only resources but also justice and also leadership, which is seen as a cornerstone to end hunger, to reduce malnutrition and also to build resilient rural communities throughout the entire world.
Although it is empowering to see women charting their own paths, it is clear that many areas still require modernisation so that women can continue to expand their impact on the world; agriculture is one key sector that needs this change.
This International Women’s Day 2026 event demonstrates that investing in women farmers is not only a matter of equality but also a practical strategy to ensure sustainable food security and resilient food systems globally.
