UN Women & FAO Empower African Women Farmers

UN Women and the FAO have collaborated on the "Empowerment of Women in Africa through Climate-Smart Agriculture" program since 2019. The initiative intends to empower women farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa with fundamental skills, business acumen, and climate-conscious farming techniques.

According to FAO data, over 66% of working women in the region are involved in agriculture, frequently in difficult conditions. The initiative attempts to close the gender gap by providing women with skills, financial assistance, access to technology, and market entry.

Disebo Makatsa, a South African lady who turned her mother's garden into a 368-hectare vegetable and dairy farm, is one success tale. She is one of 4,560 South African women farmers who have gotten training under the Standard Bank-sponsored initiative.

The idea has had an influence in other African countries as well. In Malawi, 10,461 women focused on groundnut production, while 1,400 Ugandan women studied farm-raised fish agriculture.

In Nigeria, 12,500 women learned how to make shea butter and rice, with an emphasis on climate-resilient farming and appropriate land management. Participants reported increased crop quality and output, as well as legal compliance advice for their enterprises.

Disebo enlarged her farm, adding 18 extra milk cows and employed 14 people year-round, with an additional 14 workers during harvest season.

She hopes to expand into pasteurized milk manufacturing, pre-cut veggies, and other areas. This initiative is still empowering women farmers and creating economic resilience and sustainability throughout Africa.