Women farmers caring for people and planet: Sustaining land, water and biodiversity

The year 2026 has been declared the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF) by the United Nations General Assembly, recognizing women farmers’ essential contributions to food systems, rural economies, and environmental stewardship worldwide. It is a call to confront the structural inequalities that continue to limit women’s rights, opportunities, and leadership across food and agricultural sectors.

This UN Women portrait was created to place the diversity of women farmers’ voices and experiences at the center of global dialogues and action on sustainable development and food systems. While each portrait reflects an individual journey, together these stories demonstrate the broader impact of investing in women’s leadership, resilience, and economic empowerment. They showcase how UN Women’s Global Programming Framework on Climate Action and Green-Blue Economies is advancing climate-resilient agriculture, food security, and sustainable livelihoods, contributing to more inclusive and sustainable development outcomes.

The 12 stories shared in these pages are stories of resilience, ancestral knowledge, collective action, innovation, and dignity. They are the faces and voices of women cultivating the land while adapting to a changing climate, caring for their families, and protecting ecosystems. They are women transforming local economies, leading cooperatives, preserving biodiversity, managing water resources, and creating opportunities for future generations.

These portraits remind us that women farmers are not only essential food producers but also environmental stewards, custodians of traditional knowledge, and leaders in building sustainable, climate-resilient communities.