More than 100 million people could be lifted out of poverty if women had the same access to productive resources as men. New figures from this year's edition of the “State of Food and Agriculture” show how improving gender equality in agriculture would generate significant gains for the agricultural sector and society as a whole. © FAO: http://www.fao.org

1. Economic and Social Development Department
The State of
Food and
Agriculture
2010-11
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
2010-11
The State of
Food and
Agriculture
Women in agriculture: Closing
the gender gap for development
Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations (FAO)
Rome, March 2011

2. Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
The State of
Food and
Agriculture
2010-11
Economic and Social Development Department
Women farmers produce less...
Source: Udry et al. (1995), Gender differentials in farm productivity: implications for household efficiency
and agricultural policy. Food Policy, 20(5): 407-423.

3. Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
The State of
Food and
Agriculture
2010-11
Economic and Social Development Department
because they operate smaller farms…
Source: FAO Rural Income Generating Activities Database (2010).

4. Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
The State of
Food and
Agriculture
2010-11
Economic and Social Development Department
…and use fewer inputs (e.g. fertilizer)
Source: FAO Rural Income Generating Activities Database (2010).

5. Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
The State of
Food and
Agriculture
2010-11
Economic and Social Development Department
Gains from closing the gender gap
 Productivity gains
• 20 to 30 percent on women’s farms
• 2.5 to 4 percent at national level
 Food security gains
• 12 to 17 percent reduction in the number of hungry
• 100 to 150 million people lifted out of hunger
 Broader economic and social gains
• Better health, nutrition and education outcomes for
children
• Higher human capital, which promotes economic
growth

6. Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
The State of
Food and
Agriculture
2010-11
Economic and Social Development Department
Gains from closing the gender gap
 Productivity gains
• 20 to 30 percent on women’s farms
• 2.5 to 4 percent at national level
 Food security gains
• 12 to 17 percent reduction in the number of hungry
• 100 to 150 million people lifted out of hunger
 Broader economic and social gains
• Better health, nutrition and education outcomes for
children
• Higher human capital, which promotes economic
growth

7. Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
The State of
Food and
Agriculture
2010-11
Economic and Social Development Department
Gains from closing the gender gap
 Productivity gains
• 20 to 30 percent on women’s farms
• 2.5 to 4 percent at national level
 Food security gains
• 12 to 17 percent reduction in the number of hungry
• 100 to 150 million people lifted out of hunger
 Broader economic and social gains
• Better health, nutrition and education outcomes for
children
• Higher human capital, which promotes economic
growth

8. Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
The State of
Food and
Agriculture
2010-11
Economic and Social Development Department
Gains from closing the gender gap
 Productivity gains
• 20 to 30 percent on women’s farms
• 2.5 to 4 percent at national level
 Food security gains
• 12 to 17 percent reduction in the number of hungry
• 100 to 150 million people lifted out of hunger
 Broader economic and social gains
• Better health, nutrition and education outcomes for
children
• Higher human capital, which promotes economic
growth

9. Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
The State of
Food and
Agriculture
2010-11
Economic and Social Development Department
Steps to close the gender gap
 Good agricultural policy must consider
gender differences
 Ensure equality for women under the
law
 Invest in the human capital of women
and girls
 Provide access to public services and
technologies to free up women’s time

10. Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
The State of
Food and
Agriculture
2010-11
Economic and Social Development Department
Steps to close the gender gap
 Good agricultural policy must consider
gender differences
 Ensure equality for women under the
law
 Invest in the human capital of women
and girls
 Provide access to public services and
technologies to free up women’s time

11. Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
The State of
Food and
Agriculture
2010-11
Economic and Social Development Department
Steps to close the gender gap
 Good agricultural policy must consider
gender differences
 Ensure equality for women under the
law
 Invest in the human capital of women
and girls
 Provide access to public services and
technologies to free up women’s time

12. Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
The State of
Food and
Agriculture
2010-11
Economic and Social Development Department
Steps to close the gender gap
 Good agricultural policy must consider
gender differences
 Ensure equality for women under the
law
 Invest in the human capital of women
and girls
 Provide access to public services and
technologies to free up women’s time

13. Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
The State of
Food and
Agriculture
2010-11
Economic and Social Development Department
Steps to close the gender gap
 Good agricultural policy must consider
gender differences
 Ensure equality for women under the
law
 Invest in the human capital of women
and girls
 Provide access to public services and
technologies to free up women’s time

14. Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
The State of
Food and
Agriculture
2010-11
Economic and Social Development Department
Policies can make a difference
 Gender is a social construct, and as
such it can change
 Address the multiple constraints of
women in agriculture holistically

15. Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
The State of
Food and
Agriculture
2010-11
Economic and Social Development Department
Policies can make a difference
 Gender is a social construct, and as
such it can change
 Address the multiple constraints of
women in agriculture holistically

16. Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
The State of
Food and
Agriculture
2010-11
Economic and Social Development Department
For more information
The State of
Food and Agriculture
Women in agriculture: Closing the gender
gap for development
FAO‘s major annual flagship publication
Available in English, French, Spanish, Russian,
Arabic and Chinese
www.fao.org/publications/sofa