Indian Economy News

Global experts chart new directions for G20 countries to achieve women’s empowerment and leadership in agri-food systems

In order to boost agricultural productivity, food security and nutrition, and resilience to the effects of climate change, it is important that women's leadership and empowerment in agri-food systems be strengthened. These findings were reached by global experts and researchers at the end of the International Gender Conference “From Research to Impact: Towards Just and Resilient Agri-food Systems,” which was organised by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the CGIAR GENDER Impact Platform and held in New Delhi from October 9-12, 2023.

Following the recent G20 Summit, wherein G20 leaders pledged to promote women-led development and women's leadership in food security, nutrition, and climate action, these findings are especially timely.

The conference was filled with evidence backed by research that makes it abundantly evident that intentionally designing agricultural projects, programmes, and policies to empower women improves the lot of everyone involved. This includes increased agricultural productivity, improved child nutrition, improved dietary diversity, increased food security, and increased resilience to climate change.

A best-practice strategy that can increase women's access to markets, resources, agency, and empowerment is the formation of Farmer Producer Organisations or other collectives. Agri-food systems can only be just and resilient if women are encouraged to take on leadership roles in all spheres of innovation, decision-making, and policy formation, according to research.

Assistant Director General (HRD) of ICAR, Dr. Seema Jaggi, summarised the main conclusions drawn from the conference discussions and stated that the G20 leaders decided to focus on four areas of priority: investments in food security and nutrition, climate-smart approaches, inclusive agricultural value chains, and digitalisation for agricultural transformation. According to her, ICAR and CGIAR can be very helpful in guiding these four priority areas.

A last call to action relates to stronger connections between researchers and research users, stated Dr. Ranjitha Puskur, Country Representative for India and Research Leader of Gender and Livelihoods at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).

Delegates from almost 60 countries attended the four-day international agricultural gender research conference, which included four plenary sessions, 54 parallel sessions, and six poster sessions, and deliberated how agricultural gender research can contribute to more resilient and just agri-food systems.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.