FAO releases updated gender profile to guide inclusive agricultural and rural development in Uzbekistan

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with national partners, has launched the second edition of the national gender profile of agriculture and rural livelihoods in Uzbekistan, providing updated analysis and actionable recommendations to inform gender-responsive agricultural policies and programmes and support more inclusive and effective agrifood systems.

Agriculture is a key source of livelihoods, food security and incomes for a significant share of the population of Uzbekistan. Women – particularly rural women – play a central role in agricultural production, family farming and household nutrition, but the assessment shows that these contributions are often undervalued and shaped by persistent structural inequalities.

“Rural women are at the heart of rural life in Uzbekistan, and the country’s ongoing agricultural reforms and efforts to modernize its agrifood systems cannot be fully achieved without their full participation and empowerment,” said Viorel Gutu, FAO Assistant Director-General, Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia and FAO Representative for Uzbekistan. “This assessment provides a solid evidence base to guide gender-responsive policies and programmes that contribute to more inclusive, resilient and sustainable rural development.”

FAO conducts Country Gender Assessments to support national actors with data and analysis on gender dynamics in agriculture and rural development and to inform country-level programming.

Building on the first such assessment for Uzbekistan, conducted in 2019, the updated assessment reflects important policy developments and external shocks, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the growing impacts of climate change, that have amplified existing vulnerabilities in rural areas.

While women account for over 43 percent of the agricultural workforce, the Country Gender Assessment highlights stark inequalities in access to productive resources. For example, more than 93 percent of agricultural land is controlled by men, and women own only a small fraction of land allocated to farm enterprises. The assessment also finds that women are significantly less likely than men to access agricultural advisory services, irrigation water and market opportunities, with men estimated to receive advisory support about twice as often as women. This limits the ability of women to move beyond subsistence production and fully participate along and benefit from profitable value chains.

The Country Gender Assessment further documents the persistence and widespread nature of informal and unpaid work in agriculture, where women constitute the majority of unpaid family workers. High levels of time poverty, driven by unpaid domestic and care responsibilities, continue to constrain women’s access to education, training and income-generating activities, with women spending twice as much time as men on unpaid work, on average, while earning only around 70 percent of men’s wages.

Challenges are particularly acute for young rural women: The assessment indicates that nearly three-quarters of young rural women are not in employment, education or training, a rate several times higher than that of young men, with long-term implications for rural development and economic growth. FAO’s international experience shows that empowering rural women contributes to greater food security, improved nutrition and more efficient agrifood systems.

The launch of the updated Country Gender Assessment coincides with the adoption of the first Gender Strategy for Ensuring Equality in Agriculture and Expanding the Rights and Opportunities of Women (2025–2030), developed by the Uzbekistan Ministry of Agriculture with technical support from FAO. Ibrokhim Abdurakhmonov, Minister of Agriculture of Uzbekistan, said that it comes at an important time, as the country is advancing reforms to promote equality and inclusion in agriculture. He noted that the findings and recommendations will serve as an important resource for implementing the national agenda on gender equality and women’s empowerment in agriculture and rural development.

In addition to identifying key challenges, the Country Gender Assessment is designed as a practical tool for action. It offers targeted recommendations for addressing gender-based disparities in agriculture, rural development and climate resilience strategies through improving the collection and use of sex-disaggregated data and expanding women’s access to services, resources and decision-making spaces. By supporting evidence-based policymaking and inclusive programming, the assessment aims to contribute to more prosperous, inclusive and resilient rural communities in Uzbekistan, reaffirming FAO’s commitment to ensuring that agrifood system transformation leaves no one behind.