By Azuka Offor
The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) has called for greater recognition, stronger policies and increased investment in rural women farmers to support their contributions to food security, environmental conservation and sustainable development.
The call coincides with the International Day of Rural Women, celebrated annually on October 15 to recognise the contributions of rural women to agriculture, food production, environmental protection and rural development.
The 2026 celebration, themed “Rural Women Farmers Caring for Mother Nature,” highlights the important role women play in protecting the environment, preserving natural resources and sustaining agricultural production.
In a statement commemorating the occasion, UN Women praised rural women for their efforts in seed conservation, biodiversity protection, water resource management and the restoration of degraded land. The agency also called for stronger policies to safeguard their rights and improve their economic opportunities.
UN Women urged governments and financial institutions to ensure that women enjoy secure and enforceable rights to land and water, while expanding their access to credit, modern agricultural technologies and other essential productive resources.
In Nigeria, the Smallholders Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON) advocated greater national recognition and investment in rural women farmers. The organisation also called for fair access to markets, competitive prices for agricultural produce and dedicated budgetary allocations to support women engaged in farming.
Similarly, Diana Armstrong, a Member of the Legislative Assembly representing the Ulster Unionist Party, called for measures to eliminate systemic barriers confronting rural women. She observed that many women undertake vital agricultural and domestic responsibilities without formal recognition as farmers or adequate financial compensation.
Women play a significant role in global food production and environmental conservation. Estimates indicate that providing women farmers with equal access to land, credit and other productive resources could increase yields on their farms by 20 to 30 per cent, potentially benefiting an additional 100 million to 150 million people.
Despite their contributions, rural women continue to face significant obstacles, including restricted land ownership, inadequate access to financing, unequal remuneration and limited representation in agricultural decision-making.
The International Day of Rural Women therefore serves as an opportunity for governments, development partners and other stakeholders to strengthen policies and increase investments that empower rural women, improve their livelihoods and recognise their contributions to food security, environmental sustainability and national development.
Azuka Offor is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
#Ministryofinformationandvaluareformation
#Informationiskey
#Solutionis
