Agritech for Women Farmers 2024

Introduction Women play a significant and pivotal role in the global agriculture sector. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), women represent 43% of the global agriculture labour force.3 This high participation is witnessed across regions: more than two-thirds of employed women in South Asia are engaged in agriculture, while over half of the farmers in eastern Africa are women.4 Women also produce between 60% and 80% of food in developing countries, signifying their importance for food security.5Gender-inclusive agritech can unlock opportunities to strengthen women’s critical role in global agriculture and food security. Key facts on the role of women in agriculture across emerging economies BOX 1 –In Ethiopia, agriculture is primarily a family run enterprise with women contributing to 75% of farm work and 70% of family food production. Despite their crucial role in farming activities, women produce nearly 35% less than men due to limited access to extension services and inputs (seeds and fertilizers).6 –In Uganda, women contribute to 90% of the nation’s food yet are vulnerable to agricultural shocks from disasters due to their reliance on subsistence farming practices. They also depend on less rewarding farming practices to produce low-value crops.7 –In India, women’s participation is notably higher, nearly 50% across commercial value chains such as cotton, sugarcane, tea, coffee and cashews. Women are often engaged in the field and primarily responsible for harvesting activities. Despite their substantial participation, women earn up to 60% less than men and face limited access to finance, training and technology. The demanding nature of their work and extended hours also disproportionately impact their health.8 Despite their substantial contribution to global food security, women often face harsh working conditions that adversely affect their health and have limited decision-making power throughout the value chain.9 Women are mostly involved in highly labour-intensive agricultural tasks ranging from sowing to winnowing to harvesting.10 For instance, women farmers in India spend about 32% of their time on agricultural activities, mainly involved in transplanting, weeding and harvesting while also managing their household.11 Similarly, there is a wide gap when it comes to women’s access to agricultural resources, inputs, training, access to market, equal pay, livestock ownership and formal credit12 preventing the agriculture sector from reaching its full potential. Agricultural technologies and gender: exploring interlinkages Among the many resources required for securing high-quality agricultural livelihoods, globally, women farmers have restricted access to digital agricultural technologies (agritech), which limits agricultural systems from reaching their full potential. Over the last decade, agritech has emerged as a transformative force for building more efficient agricultural supply chains while creating socioeconomic impact at the farm level. The use of ICT-enabled technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and the internet of things (IoT) enables farmers to make data-driven decisions by collecting real-time information about soil conditions, pest detection, crop health, weather patterns and other factors that impact agriculture. These technologies also bridge information gaps, facilitate improved access to market data, enhance micro-finance opportunities and facilitate the development of agricultural human capital. This can cumulatively contribute to more inclusive, sustainable and efficient agricultural supply chains and food production (Figure 1). Agritech for Women Farmers: A Business Case for Inclusive Growth 5