International Day of Rural Women - Recognizing the knowledge of rural women farmers and strengthening their opportunities

Every day, rural women help feed their communities, sustain family livelihoods and care for the land. They preserve traditional crop varieties, conserve biodiversity, manage natural resources and find ways to keep farms productive in the face of changing environmental conditions. Yet, despite their essential contributions, many still lack equal access to the land, finance, services and opportunities they need to thrive.

The 2026 International Day of Rural Women, under the theme “Rural Women Farmers Caring for Mother Nature”, recognizes the contributions women make to environmental stewardship and calls attention to the importance of strengthening their leadership and opportunities.

Across the Near East and North Africa (NENA), women are involved in every part of agrifood systems. They grow crops, work on family farms, process and trade agricultural products, run businesses and help sustain households and communities. Their knowledge, often passed down through generations, is also a valuable resource for conserving biodiversity and managing land and water. Recognizing these contributions means going beyond celebrating women's work; it means ensuring they have the resources, opportunities, agency and voice to shape the future of agriculture.

The barriers holding rural women back

The gap between women's contributions and the opportunities available to them remains significant across NENA. In 2019, women accounted for just 20 percent of employment across agrifood systems in the region, compared with a global average of 36 percent. Those who do work in agriculture are often concentrated in less secure roles, with more than 80 percent of female agricultural workers engaged in vulnerable self-employment, including own-account work and unpaid family labour. As a result, much of their contribution remains unrecognized and does not translate into financial independence.

Access to and control over resources is a major part of the problem. Women own less than 7 percent of agricultural land in NENA, restricting their ability to invest in their farms and access services such as credit, for which land can serve as collateral. Limited access to agricultural training, technologies and markets can further constrain their productivity and income, while underrepresentation in cooperatives and decision-making bodies limits their influence over the sector.

These challenges are compounded by unpaid care responsibilities. Women in the region undertake 4.7 times more unpaid care work than men, leaving less time for paid employment, training or developing a business.

Closing these gaps requires practical action including improving women's access, agency and control over land, finance, knowledge and markets, while ensuring they have a meaningful voice in decisions about agriculture and in governing land and other natural resource management.

Women in olive value chains

The International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 provides an opportunity to increase the visibility of women farmers and strengthen the support available to them. In this context, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies – Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari (CIHEAM Bari) organized the MOSAIC – Mediterranean Olive Sisters Across International Chains - learning exchange. This exchange offered a glimpse of what becomes possible when women farmers have the opportunity to learn from one another, share their experiences and explore new ways of working.

Bringing together nine women farmers and entrepreneurs from eight NENA countries in Apulia, Italy, in September 2026, the learning exchange created space not only to share knowledge on sustainable olive production and business development, but also to discuss the gender-related barriers women encounter in their work. Learning from peers who had built successful businesses, diversified their activities and reached new markets showed how experience and innovation can open new possibilities.

These opportunities matter. Access to knowledge, professional networks and practical examples can help women strengthen their businesses, increase their incomes and gain greater recognition for their work. At the same time, their contributions extend beyond the farm economy. By maintaining traditional practices, conserving agricultural biodiversity and making better use of natural resources, women help protect the land that sustains their livelihoods and communities. When rural women have the opportunity to realize their potential, both people and nature stand to benefit.

From recognition to lasting change

The experiences shared through MOSAIC demonstrate that empowering rural women and supporting environmental sustainability can go hand in hand. When women can access training, technology, finance, markets and decision-making spaces, they are better positioned to build viable businesses, apply sustainable practices and contribute to resilient rural economies.

However, individual initiatives must be accompanied by broader institutional support. Gender-responsive policies, accessible agricultural extension services, fairer access to land and finance, and stronger representation in producer organizations are essential to addressing the structural inequalities women face. Recognizing unpaid care work and improving access to rural services and infrastructure are equally important.

On this International Day of Rural Women, and throughout the International Year of the Woman Farmer, recognizing women's contributions must be accompanied by action to expand their opportunities. Supporting rural women means investing not only in their livelihoods, but also in the knowledge, biodiversity and natural resources that sustain communities and agrifood systems.

Rural women are already caring for the land and shaping the future of agriculture. They need the resources, recognition and decision-making power to continue doing so on equal terms.