Accra: The Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has urged global action to resolve insecure land tenure issues to ensure women's land rights and access to tenure in agriculture. The Alliance emphasized that women play a crucial role in food production and processing, and securing their land rights would empower them to invest in their land, boost agricultural productivity, and enhance food security.
According to Ghana News Agency, Madam Alice Rhuweza, President of AGRA, made these remarks during a ceremony marking International Women's Day 2025, held in Accra under the theme 'Empowering Women, Transforming Trade: Unlocking Africa's Economic Potential.' She highlighted that 63 percent of women are involved in agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa, contributing to 60 to 80 percent of food production on the continent and half of the food produced globally. However, they only receive 10 percent of the revenue and are often excluded from decision-making processes.
Madam Rhuweza called on global leaders to address the issue of insecure land tenure by ensuring women have land rights and access to tenure. "We need to make sure that women are also at the table when decisions about agriculture and agricultural policy are being made and also make sure that the income disparity between women and men around the world working in the agriculture sector is addressed," she stressed.
Mr. Abebe Haile Gabriel, Assistant Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), noted that disruptions and crises have a more detrimental impact on women's conditions within agrifood systems compared to their male counterparts. He stated that women across Africa are at the heart of commerce, representing nearly two-thirds of the agrifood workforce, taking on roles as producers, traders, processors, distributors, and dealers.
Mr. Gabriel highlighted that women constitute over 70 percent of traders, sustaining families, communities, and entire economies. However, he pointed out that these engagements are predominantly within low-value domestic supply chains and informal sectors. Despite their significant contributions, women continue to face systemic barriers, including limited access to finance, restrictive policies, trade-related gender biases, and infrastructure deficits that hinder their full participation in economic activities.
Mr. Gabriel mentioned that women involved in cross-border trade also face risks of violence, harassment, exploitation, and abuse at border crossings. "Overcoming these obstacles will empower women through a smart economic strategy," he remarked. He emphasized the importance of providing targeted financial products, capacity-building, and mentorship programmes tailored to the needs of women-led businesses.
He concluded by urging governments, private sector actors, development partners, and civil society to work together to create enabling environments for women in trade. "Together, let us continue to champion policies, partnerships, and investments that empower women. Let us help in unleashing their full potential as catalysts towards a more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood system transformation to achieve better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind," he said.