Women at the Forefront of the Fight Against Industrial Agriculture

UN Women

As corporate-driven agriculture expands, traditional farming practices are increasingly displaced, exacerbating the vulnerabilities of rural communities especially for women. From access to land and public policies to working conditions and decision-making power, women face systemic barriers that perpetuate social inequality.

Yet, women’s contributions and struggles often remain invisible, as do the specific harms caused to them by industrial agriculture. Testimonies of women from the Global South remind us that the fight for food sovereignty is multifaceted, challenging both agribusiness and patriarchy. Rural women are often at the forefront of these fights. - Third World Network

HER STORY: SOWING RESISTANCE TO INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURE - Summary

Despite making up nearly half of the global agricultural workforce, women own less than 15% of agricultural land and are paid almost 20% less than their male counterparts. These disparities are not just statistics—they are lived experiences that define the daily struggles of rural women. Women small food producers are facing a harsh reality across much of the world. From access to land and public policies to working conditions and decision-making power, women face systemic barriers that perpetuate social inequality.

As corporate-driven agriculture expands, traditional farming practices are increasingly displaced, exacerbating the vulnerabilities of rural communities. Women, already marginalised, bear the brunt of these changes. They are the caretakers of their families and communities, stepping in when male partners migrate for work, and ensuring the survival of the elderly and children. Their well-being is not just a personal matter—it is the cornerstone of rural resilience.

Yet, women’s contributions and struggles often remain invisible, as do the specific harms caused to them by industrial agriculture.

To shed light on these issues, GRAIN shares the testimonies of women from South Asia, Africa, and Latin America. From the drone pilots of India’s Namo Drone Didi programme to agroecological farmers of Mexico and dispossessed community leaders in Uganda, these women reveal the layers of adversity they endure, as well as their resilience in reclaiming their roles as leaders and innovators in their communities.

Their stories are a call to action—a reminder that the fight for food sovereignty is multifaceted, challenging both agribusiness and patriarchy. And rural women, small food producers are often at the forefront of all these fights.

GRAIN

https://grain.org/e/7261

27 March 2025