The International Year of the Woman Farmer recognises and celebrates the critical contributions women make to agriculture and food systems worldwide. It is a global opportunity to raise awareness, amplify women’s voices, and advance action that supports women farmers at every level.
Women farmers play a vital role in food security, sustainable agriculture, and rural economies. From growing and processing food to managing households and communities, their work underpins resilient food systems and supports livelihoods across generations.
Despite their contributions, women farmers often face significant barriers, including limited access to land, education, financing, and decision-making opportunities. Their work is frequently underrecognised, even as they carry a disproportionate share of agricultural and caregiving responsibilities.
ACWW plays an active role in advancing the goals of the International Year of the Woman Farmer by amplifying the voices and experiences of women farmers worldwide. Through storytelling, partnerships, and targeted projects, ACWW's work aims to increase visibility, strengthen recognition, and support meaningful action that reflects the everyday realities of women in agriculture.
Story Bank Initiative
A key part of the International Year of the Woman Farmer is sharing stories. We are creating a story bank of voices from across the ACWW membership; a collection of personal stories that highlight the lived experiences of ACWW members who are women farmers from around the world. These stories will help raise awareness, inform advocacy, and showcase the vital role women play in farming, food systems, and rural communities worldwide.
Through written, visual, and video storytelling, the story bank amplifies women’s voices, sheds light on everyday realities, and helps ensure their contributions to agriculture are seen, valued, and understood.
If you would like to participate, please contact casey@acww.org.uk
Drought, poor soils, and destroyed fields test us every season, but we adapt—soaking seeds, resting the land, and doing everything we can to keep it productive.
Women Empowered, Benin
I do accounts for the farm and in recent years have become more involved. I help weigh dose sheep and move them, nearly acting as a sheepdog sometimes! I've enjoyed it so much that I started a course at our local agricultural college on agriculture and business operations.
Rhoda Farrelly, FWI of Northern Ireland
I serve as a lead farmer where I manage our farm and use it as a demonstration site for organic and indigenous seed farming. I regularly travel to neighbouring villages to train other women farmers, supporting them to adopt organic practices and to become lead farmers themselves.
Beauty Ndlovu, Ntengwe, Zimbabwe
On top of weeding, harvesting and preserving our garden, my duties on the farm include moving, feeding and watering the animals, and bringing in hay and wood for winter. When lambing starts I bottle feed ‘orphaned’ lambs 4 times a day.
Denise Bonin-Mount, Ottawa, Canada
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For almost 100 years, we have driven real change in advocating for rural women’s rights, strengthening networks and funding grassroots projects. Yet, there is still so much more to do.
Visit our online shop and give today for our World President Magdie de Kock's special appeal: help us build stronger communities, together.