Guest during the launch

A reported released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome in April 2023 and re-launched in Nairobi Kenya in June 2023 on the Status of Women in Agrifood Systems sheds light on the great role played by women in agrifood systems despite the immense challenges they face.

According to the reportsocial norms and roles are stumbling blocks on their entry into agrifood value chains and agro-business which are dominated by men. The resultant inequalities create a significant gap that needs to be addressed for women to utilize their full potential in agrifood systems. Closing the gender gap in farm productivity and the wage gap in agrifood-system employment can increase global gross domestic product, reduce global food insecurity   including poverty and inequality the report asserts.

The event attracted participants from the Government of Kenya Ministries and State Departments, UN Women, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD), the Council of Governors, African Women Studies Research Centre - University of Nairobi, women farmers from three counties and other stakeholders.

“At FAO we are already working towards filling this gender gap highlighted in this report. As a norm we mainstream in all our programming and intervention in a way to address the enormous gaps identified by the report so that no one nowhere is left behind particularly women and girls. Examples include our jointly implemented project with UN women and the counties of West Pokot, Laikipia and Kitui on Climate Smart Agriculture Project for Women Economic Empowerment.  In collaboration with EU and the government of Kenya FAO through the Digital Land Governance project are working to increase women access to land and thus agricultural productivity and further contributing to women empowerment.” Said Carla Mucavi the FAO representative to Kenya. 

According to the report the cumulative efforts by women add up to ensuring food security. Women perform this important role amidst many challenges as agrifood systems are seldom favorable to rural women resulting in gaps which if not addressed may slow the realization of food security.

Agrifood systems, especially in African countries, have suffered a number of shocks through adverse climatic phenomena like climate change that has resulted in increased frequency and severity of droughts, floods, and animal and plant pests and diseases. This was worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, that has resulted in high food prices and economic slowdowns.

“This report gives a picture of the status of the Kenyan women in Agrifood systems. Rural to urban migration, which is on the rise in Kenya, has further destabilized agrifood systems – adding stress to rural women.  This denies much-needed rural labour while at the same time stressing urban food systems with an increasing number of mouths to feed with every passing day.” Said Collins Marangu, the Director Crop Development and Food Safety at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development who also represented the Principal Secretary in the State Department of Crop Development.

The report states that women in agrifood systems tend to occupy vulnerable irregular, informal, part-time, low-skilled and labour-intensive roles. They are often absent in the most lucrative parts of the value chain or in crops with export potential. Most women lost their jobs during the first year of the pandemic. In total 22 percent of women lost off-farm agrifood jobs, compared to only two percent of men.

"Addressing gender inequality concerns everyone, it requires all hands on deck, all ministries on deck, and, really, all of society on deck. We need to make sure that women have the same welfare outcomes and that means equal wages, equal productivity, the same decision-making power, and the same freedom from violence. Without all of that, we can't rest our efforts. And we need to get this message to men and boys, they need to change their attitudes, without them we will not be able to address gender inequalities.  I really hope that this new report serves to build momentum. This is the time to push forward and accelerate change to achieve the agenda 2030." Said Davis Benjamin the FAO Director, Inclusive Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division

FAO estimates that by closing gender gaps in the factors that drive wages and productivity, it would generate additional global economic activity worth nearly $1 trillion dollars, nearly a third of Africa’s GDP, with the bulk of the gain going to countries most vulnerable to hunger.

Jackline Makokha the Director Gender, State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action in the Ministry of Public Service, Gender and Affirmative Action. Who represented the Chief Guest acknowledged the report will be a great resource to the Ministry and the Country at large and promised to implement the recommendations. “As policy makers we need data and this report gives us this much needed information.” She added.

The event was attended by three women farmers from West Pokot, Busia and Laikipia Counties. The women gave their experience in agrifood systems in a community setting. Faith Buluma a fisher folk from Busia County shared that despite her successful support to women farmers she still faces challenges when it comes to land ownership.

“Bundling agricultural technologies and services can help overcome gender gaps in productivity and lead to economic prosperity. Providing women with technologies that work for them, along with access to services, information and networks, can boost both their empowerment and productivity. For example, when a women's producer group in Nakuru received new, climate-resilient bean varieties, set up a scheme to share bean seeds and received farming advice via mobile phones, they were able to more than triple their yields and start investing in children's school fees, land titles and houses,” said Nicoline de Haan, Director of the CGIAR GENDER Impact Platform. “Our research shows that the key to this kind of success is collaboration--across government, development partners, civil society, collectives and communities—and ensuring that intentional efforts to increase women’s empowerment is part of all policies and programs.”

The Council of Governors CEO Mary Mwiti lauded the new report noting that it will serve as a reference point for their interventions. She further invited FAO to present the report during the Devolution Conference later in the year.

More information Resources

• More key facts available here in the Report’s Overview
• Media Toolkit: https://trello.com/c/ZfNs1PYb/14-media-toolkit
• Trello board: https://trello.com/b/1FKSyLV5/fao-report-launch-the-status-of-women-in-agrifood-systems

For more information Contact

Dr. Joseph Othieno

National Communication Expert

FAO Kenya

[email protected]