Women in Agriculture

Data shows that women worldwide, women make up roughly 43 percent of the agricultural labor. However, this number masks huge discrepancies and variations across age, social class and countries.

Most US farm operators are men.

As of the 2012 census of agriculture, roughly 12% of principal farm operators were women. Believe it or not, that’s a BIG increase from just 25 years ago, when less than 5% of principal farm operators in the US were women.

Women in agriculture worldwide

In the developing world, women are often the backbone of their local economies but receive only a fraction of the land, less freedoms and rights, little to no input on rules and regulations and work much longer hours than their male counterparts.

Because of this, women are disproportionately affected by climate change. Droughts and extreme, unpredictable weather put them at a higher risk of injury and death.