Climate change significantly impacts women in agriculture, particularly in regions heavily reliant on rain-fed farming. Women make up a substantial portion of the agricultural workforce, producing 60-80% of food crops in poorer parts of the world. However, they face unique challenges due to limited access to resources, technology, and decision-making opportunities.
Key Challenges:
- Increased Workload: Climate change exacerbates women’s workload, as they spend more time collecting water, fuel, and fodder for livestock.
- Limited Access to Resources: Women have limited access to land, financing, and other essential resources, hindering their ability to adapt to climate change.
- Food Insecurity: Climate-related crop failures and decreased yields threaten food security, affecting not only women farmers but also their families.
- Lack of Representation: Women are underrepresented in agricultural policy and decision-making circles, despite being the majority of those affected.
Impact on Women’s Livelihoods:
- Reduced Income: Climate-related crop failures and decreased yields lead to reduced income for women farmers, affecting their ability to support their families.
- Increased Vulnerability: Women are more vulnerable to climate-related disasters, such as droughts and floods, due to limited access to resources and support systems.
- Decreased Decision-Making Power: Women’s limited access to resources and decision-making opportunities hinders their ability to adapt to climate change and make informed decisions about their farms.
Solutions:
- Climate-Smart Agriculture: Implementing climate-smart agriculture practices, such as conservation agriculture and precision farming, can help women farmers adapt to climate change.
- Access to Climate Information: Providing women farmers with access to climate information and early warning systems can help them make informed decisions about planting, harvesting, and managing their farms.
- Support for Women Farmers: Governments, organizations, and initiatives can support women farmers by providing access to resources, training, and decision-making opportunities.