A digital illustration of women in a field, with crops and blue sky.

Empowering Women in Agriculture: Unveiling the Impact and Overcoming the Challenges

Lena Voss in Culture & Society December 2025 • 5 min read.

"From Field to Table: Examining the Vital Role of Women in Agriculture and the Path to a More Equitable Future"

Agriculture, the backbone of global food systems, relies heavily on the contributions of women. Across the world, women play a crucial role in various aspects of farming, from planting and harvesting to livestock rearing and decision-making. Despite their significant contributions, women often face numerous challenges that hinder their full participation and limit their potential to improve their livelihoods and contribute to food security.

This article focuses on the Vavuniya district in Sri Lanka, where agriculture is a major source of livelihood. It examines the extent of women's involvement in agricultural activities, the factors that encourage or discourage their participation, and the constraints they encounter. By understanding these dynamics, we can work towards creating a more equitable and empowering environment for women in agriculture.

The study aims to identify the factors contributing to women's involvement in agriculture, pinpoint the challenges they face, and evaluate their role in decision-making. Through this exploration, we seek to contribute to the development of strategies that support women's empowerment and enhance the sustainability of agricultural practices.

Unpacking Women's Roles in Agriculture: A Deep Dive into Vavuniya District

A digital illustration of women in a field, with crops and blue sky.

The research, conducted in the Vavuniya district, provides valuable insights into the reality of women's participation in agriculture. The study selected 60 farm families from both rural and urban areas to gather data on their involvement in various agricultural activities. The study utilized questionnaires to collect data on the women's participation levels, the factors influencing their engagement, and the obstacles they faced in agricultural activities.

The results of the study paint a clear picture: women in rural areas are significantly more involved in agricultural activities than their urban counterparts. The study indicates that the average woman in a rural area spends 836 hours per year on agricultural activities, while the average urban woman spends 77 hours. This difference highlights the varying levels of involvement and the different challenges women face based on their location and circumstances.

Factors Influencing Participation: In urban areas, factors such as employment status, age, and education levels negatively affect women's participation. In rural areas, age and education level also play a role in limiting women's involvement.
Obstacles to Involvement: Women face a range of obstacles, including a lack of knowledge and training, family responsibilities, cultural and social barriers, and physical constraints.
Decision-Making Roles: Women are actively involved in decision-making processes, particularly in rural areas, where they play a significant role in selecting crops, managing livestock, and making other critical decisions.

The findings underscore the critical role women play in agriculture and highlight the challenges they face. By understanding these dynamics, we can develop targeted interventions and support systems to empower women and create a more sustainable and equitable agricultural sector.

Charting a Course for Empowerment: Recommendations and Future Directions

The study's findings offer valuable insights for creating a more inclusive and supportive agricultural sector. Enhancing women's access to knowledge, training, and resources is essential. Targeted interventions, such as providing access to education, promoting supportive policies, and addressing cultural and social barriers, can help empower women and enhance their contributions to agriculture. By recognizing and addressing the unique challenges women face, we can build a more equitable and sustainable future for all.

About this Article -

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Everything You Need To Know

What are the primary roles of women in agriculture, particularly in a region like the Vavuniya district of Sri Lanka?

Women in agriculture, especially in areas like the Vavuniya district, play multifaceted roles that extend throughout the entire food system. They are involved in planting, harvesting, livestock rearing, and critically, decision-making processes related to crop selection and farm management. Despite their extensive involvement, women often face challenges that limit their full participation and potential to improve their livelihoods. These challenges include limited access to knowledge, training, resources, and supportive policies, which need to be addressed to empower them effectively. Failing to address these systematically excludes a major segment of the agricultural workforce.

What are the key differences in agricultural involvement between women in rural versus urban areas, based on the Vavuniya district study?

The Vavuniya district study highlights significant differences in agricultural involvement between women in rural and urban areas. Women in rural areas spend considerably more time on agricultural activities, averaging 836 hours per year, compared to 77 hours for women in urban areas. This disparity reflects varying levels of engagement and differing challenges shaped by their location and socio-economic circumstances. These circumstances drive policy and education for rural areas, while employment considerations might take precedence in urban planning.

What obstacles do women in the Vavuniya district of Sri Lanka face that hinder their participation and advancement in agriculture?

Women in Vavuniya district face multiple obstacles that impede their progress in agriculture. These include a lack of knowledge and training, significant family responsibilities, entrenched cultural and social barriers, and physical constraints. Overcoming these challenges requires targeted interventions such as improved access to education, supportive policies, and addressing sociocultural norms that limit women's opportunities. Ignoring these issues perpetuates gender inequality and limits the agricultural sector's potential.

How does the level of education affect women's participation in agriculture in the Vavuniya district, and what are the implications for agricultural development?

The study in the Vavuniya district indicates that a higher level of education can negatively affect women's participation in agriculture, particularly in urban areas. This suggests that more educated women might pursue alternative employment opportunities outside of agriculture. This shift has implications for agricultural development, potentially leading to a need for strategies that either incentivize educated women to remain in agriculture or address labor gaps created by their departure. These strategies might include promoting technology-driven farming or providing additional training and support to attract a skilled workforce.

What kind of targeted interventions are most effective in empowering women in agriculture and creating a more sustainable and equitable agricultural sector, based on the findings from the Vavuniya district study?

Based on the Vavuniya district study, effective interventions to empower women in agriculture include enhancing their access to knowledge, training, and resources. Specific measures involve providing targeted education programs focused on modern farming techniques, promoting policies that support women's land ownership and access to credit, and addressing cultural and social barriers that restrict their involvement in decision-making processes. These interventions should also focus on alleviating physical constraints through the introduction of labor-saving technologies. By implementing these targeted support systems, a more equitable and sustainable agricultural sector can be fostered.