For Immediate Release
Office of Press Relations
press@usaid.gov
Statement by Spokesperson Jessica Jennings
Today, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution introduced by the United States declaring 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer. This worldwide observance will call attention to the vital role that women play in global agrifood systems, raise awareness of the unique challenges women in agriculture face, and catalyze action to help address these challenges.
At USAID, we know women play a vital role in advancing agricultural development and food security in communities around the world. And we know women farmers are key to unlocking economic prosperity and promoting global stability.
Women make up nearly half the agricultural workforce in low-income countries and hold the potential to transform agriculture. Currently, women-owned farms are on average 24 percent less productive than their male counterparts because of lagging access to land, inputs, services, finance and digital technology. Equipping women farmers with tools and technologies, supporting them to fully participate in and benefit from diversified and climate-resilient economic opportunities, and addressing discriminatory social norms and rules that create and reinforce inequalities will have powerful multiplier effects that go far and wide across households, communities, and entire nations. Providing women farmers equitable access to resources and tools has the potential to unlock an estimated $1 trillion in global GDP.
In recognition of the tremendous potential of women farmers, Administrator Power launched the Generating Resilience and Opportunities for Women (GROW) last year – a new USAID commitment to invest up to $335 million through the U.S. government’s Feed the Future initiative and through USAID’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) and adaptation efforts. This more than doubles our investments to tackle urgent challenges women face in food and water systems. USAID is on track to meet this target and remains committed to supporting and empowering women farmers.
