By Rabiatu Adamu Saleh 

As climate change impacts our globe, food security becomes one of our most urgent issues. The consequences of climate change and diminishing resources are burdening agricultural systems worldwide. To properly address these concerns, we must implement sustainable and equitable food production technologies that can adapt to the changing terrain.

Regrettably, contemporary ecological governance frequently perpetuates patriarchal structures, depending on technical solutions that ignore important input from many perspectives, particularly those of women. Although women constitute a substantial portion of the agricultural workforce, their expertise and creative techniques are often overlooked in sustainability discourse.

This blog will examine the intersection of gender and agriculture, highlighting how women may offer transformative solutions for food security. It will explore women globally, focusing specifically on those involved in agricultural practices such as organic farming, permaculture, agroforestry, regenerative agriculture, and community-supported agriculture.

 

Embracing Skills: The Role of Women in the Advancement of Sustainable Agriculture

 

Women in sustainable agricultural systems achieve specialized competence through a synthesis of traditional ecological knowledge, formal education, and community involvement. Historically, women have overseen domestic gardens and engaged in seed preservation, promoting a profound comprehension of local biodiversity and sustainable methodologies. As they progressively engage in formal education in agro-ecology and organic agriculture, they enhance and broaden their competencies. Networking among cooperatives augments their proficiency, enabling the dissemination of novel agricultural methodologies adapted to local environmental contexts.

Feminist political ecology (FPE) is an important framework for comprehending this progress. FPE underscores the importance of gendered experiences in resource management, illustrating how institutional inequities influence women’s access to resources and decision-making authority. The localized knowledge of women, sometimes underestimated, is essential for sustainable practices, especially in the context of climate change adaptation. The FPE emphasizes the interaction of gender with other socio-economic issues, facilitating a nuanced comprehension of how different situations influence women’s expertise. Recognizing and supporting women’s responsibilities in agriculture strengthens community resilience and promotes equitable, sustainable development, connecting local practices with greater ecological and social justice goals.

 

Integrating Women’s Skills for Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Resilience

 

Women represent a significant segment of the agricultural labor force worldwide, particularly in developing nations, where they contribute to the production of up to 80% of food.  Their expertise in plant variety, soil health, and pest management is essential for advancing sustainable agriculture. Research in sub-Saharan Africa demonstrates that women have historically chosen drought-resistant agricultural types, utilizing native seeds that endure environmental adversities.

Women frequently prefer drought-resistant crops because of their responsibilities in family nutrition and food security. These crops require less water usage and exhibit greater resilience to climate change. By prioritizing these types, women secure steady harvests, bolster household resilience, and aid communal survival during extended droughts. These techniques not only guarantee food security but also augment biodiversity and resistance to climate change, demonstrating the necessity of implementing women’s farming skills into sustainable environmental strategies.

 

Rural women participating in Sustainable development process (Image: Green belt movement)

 

Moreover, women have spearheaded community-driven responses to climate change. In Kenya, female smallholder farmers established collectives to exchange knowledge and resources, devising tactics that bolster resilience against unpredictable weather patterns. Through the promotion of agro-ecological methods, including crop diversification and organic farming, they have successfully contested patriarchal hierarchies in agricultural systems, including land ownership inequality, decision-making power, access to resources, recognition of women’s role, policy gaps, and technological adoption, fighting for environmental justice. Women in West and Central Africa are not only participants in agriculture; they are essential agents of change whose distinctive knowledge and abilities are vital for attaining sustainable agricultural practices and improving community resilience to climate change.

Women’s leadership highlights essential environmental concerns, promoting approaches that integrate conservation with communal requirements. Their participation in sustainable resource management enhances both ecological integrity and socio-economic stability – Wangari Maathai

Impact

 

This blog is intended to raise awareness among the public regarding the impact and role women play ensuring a sustainable environment, as well as their resilience to climate change. The distinct expertise and experiences that women provide in sustainable resource management are essential for addressing current environmental concerns. Feminist political ecology offers a paradigm that underscores the significance of gendered environmental knowledge and the imperative of integrating women’s perspectives into decision-making processes. Evidence from agriculture demonstrates that women are essential contributors to sustainability.

In light of the increasing effects of climate change and environmental degradation, it is important to recognize and utilize women’s expertise by acknowledging their achievements and facilitating their involvement in environmental governance. The empowerment of women is not only a moral obligation; it is important for attaining sustainable development objectives amid an unpredictable future.

The unique knowledge and skills women gain through direct participation and contact with their local ecosystems, including the management of natural resources and engaging in community-based conservation initiatives, cooperative efforts, lobbying, and transformative roles make them contributors to sustainable resource management. Their unique perspectives and experiences provide substantial contributions to local and global environmental initiatives, highlighting the imperative of incorporating women at all levels of decision-making about natural resource management.

 

Note:  This article gives the views of the author/academic featured and does not necessarily represent the views of the Global Development Institute as a whole.

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Photo by Deepak kumar on Unsplash