Women in agriculture: Breaking barriers, shaping futures

FE Team | Published: September 08, 2024 19:56:54

Women comprise half of the country's population, yet they still lack equal access to the formal workforce. In the informal sectors, such as household work and rural farm and non-farm activities, they play a vital role that often goes unrecognised. There is, however, hope that the situation will gradually improve as more and more women are joining the mainstream workforce. Over the past decade, Bangladesh has witnessed a quiet but powerful transformation in its agricultural sector. Women are now stepping forward from management of household chores to undertaking of commercially run small and medium farming enterprises across the country. This shift is not only altering the face of agriculture but also changing the dynamics of the labour force, where females are increasingly outpacing their male counterparts in participation and entrepreneurship. According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) Labour Force Survey (LFS) 2022, women aged 15 and above now account for 26.2 per cent of the agricultural workforce, compared with 19.2 per cent of men. This represents a significant 7-percentage-point gap, with women taking the lead in agriculture and its sub-sectors, including poultry, livestock, fisheries, and horticulture.
A recent report published in the Financial Express shed ample light on the success stories of female agro-entrepreneurs. The story of one woman entrepreneur highlights the scope of this transformation. Starting with a modest cattle farm, she has expanded into a thriving enterprise with croplands, fisheries, and livestock. Her journey, along with countless others, signals a broader trend of women turning household farming into commercial operations. Women, often viewed as supplementary contributors to family farming, are now the driving force behind many agricultural enterprises. This not only increases their economic independence but also empowers them to take control of their lives and play important roles in their communities. Women's growing participation in agriculture is also important to meet the shortage of farm labourers as most of the male farmers are migrating to urban areas or abroad with the hope of earning more money. Here, women can fill the vacuum left by their male counterparts.
Analysts believe that this gender shift in agriculture can further boost Bangladesh's agricultural productivity, provided women's capacity is continually upgraded. Various stakeholders-including local startups, banks, and international organisations-are already stepping in to support these efforts. Companies like iFarmer are facilitating access to finance, inputs, and markets, ensuring that women farmers have the resources they need to grow their businesses. These collaborations are dismantling long-standing barriers that have held women back.
In today's world, women are seen as active agents of change. The increase in the number of women in farming and entrepreneurship is just one example of how women are overturning long-standing gender norms that have confined many to household chores for generations. As women continue to cement their foothold in various sectors, it is essential to address the obstacles that may hinder their progress, such as the gender pay gap and sexual harassment. Moreover, to sustain this momentum, government agencies, commercial banks and development partners must intensify their efforts to provide the necessary support. Thus women's access to the same resources and opportunities as their male counterparts can be ensured. Training, access to technology, and financial inclusion are crucial to helping their transition from small-scale operations to larger, more impactful enterprises.