Access to credit, recognising household labour critical to enhancing women’s role in agriculture

Spotlight on 2026: International Year of the Woman Farmer

Women farmers around the world are set to take center stage in 2026, designated by the United Nations as the International Year of the Woman Farmer. This global initiative, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2024 with support from over 120 countries including the U.S., aims to highlight the vital yet often invisible contributions of women in agrifood systems. From planting seeds to harvesting crops and managing local markets, women make up about 40 percent of the global agricultural workforce, a figure that rises even higher in many developing nations.

In the U.S., women represent 36 percent of all farm producers, totaling around 1.2 million individuals, according to recent agricultural censuses. Over half of American farms now involve at least one female decision-maker, with women particularly prominent among newer farmers entering the field. Yet despite these numbers, their leadership remains underrepresented, comprising only about 10 to 14 percent of principal operators who handle daily decisions. This year-long campaign seeks to address these disparities by raising awareness and pushing for concrete changes.

Barriers Holding Women Back in the Fields

One of the biggest hurdles for women in agriculture is limited access to credit, which stifles their ability to expand operations or invest in modern tools. Farms managed by women often receive far less in government subsidies and grants compared to those run by men, limiting their economic output and land holdings. In Europe, for instance, female-led farms tend to be smaller and generate lower revenue, partly due to unequal distribution of funds from policies like the Common Agricultural Policy.

Adding to this challenge is the double burden of farm work combined with unpaid household and care labor, which disproportionately falls on women's shoulders. This unseen labor—cooking, childcare, and family management—leaves less time for professional development, training, or innovation in farming practices. Women also face restricted access to technology, extension services, and education, further eroding their decision-making power and productivity. These structural issues not only affect individual livelihoods but also broader rural economies where agriculture is the mainstay.

“The cost of inaction is enormous. We know from recent estimates that closing the gaps between men and women in agriculture could raise global GDP by one trillion dollars and reduce food insecurity for 45 million people,” warned a top economist at a recent international forum.

Pathways Forward: Credit, Recognition, and Empowerment

Experts emphasize that improving access to credit is essential for leveling the playing field, allowing women to secure loans for equipment, seeds, or land expansion without the biases they often encounter from lenders. Recognizing household labor through policies that value this work—perhaps via time-saving community services or flexible support programs—could free up women's energy for farm leadership roles. Investments in gender-responsive training, mentorship, and technology access are also critical to boost autonomy and innovation.

The 2026 initiative calls for global action, including policy reforms and targeted investments to dismantle these barriers. In the U.S., coalitions of farm organizations are planning nationwide events, studies, and resource hubs to celebrate women farmers and advocate for change. Leaders in state agriculture departments, with women now heading policy in 11 states overseeing vast farmlands, are already paving the way. By empowering women, agriculture can become more resilient, sustainable, and productive for everyone.

This push aligns with broader goals of gender equality in food systems, where women's full participation could transform global output and nutrition security. As the year approaches, stakeholders from farmers to policymakers are gearing up to turn recognition into real progress, ensuring women's labor—both paid and unpaid—drives the future of farming.

In summary, the International Year of the Woman Farmer in 2026 underscores how access to credit and acknowledgment of household labor are pivotal to amplifying women's influence in agriculture, addressing longstanding inequities for stronger global food systems.