Chapter 14: Consequences of Agricultural Practices

Chapter 14 - CONSEQUENCES OF  AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES

14.1 CONSEQUENCES OF AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES

Agricultural Landscapes:  landscapes resulting from the interactions between farming activities and a location’s natural environment.

Agricultural practices alter the land in different ways to create a variety of agricultural landscapes. Some agricultural landscapes have endured for centuries, while others are constantly changing.

SHIFTING CULTIVATION

Shifting cultivation: involves farming a piece of land until the soil becomes infertile and then leaving it or using it for a different purpose.

It is a form of subsistence agriculture practiced in peripheral and semi-peripheral countries. 

It differs from crop rotation: instead of rotating crops on a regular basis to maintain soil fertility, farmers using shifting cultivation set aside fields or plots once the soil is no longer suitable for farming. 

The idea is to let the land recover before using it again, but shifting cultivation systems can fail if fields are not given enough time to recover. 

When this happens (when land does not have an adequate fallow (uncultivated) period), it leads to soil degradation.

In areas where shifting cultivation is practiced, the landscape becomes an ever-changing mosaic of planted crop fields, abandoned plots, and plots in various stages of regeneration.

Shifting cultivation is commonly practiced on a small scale by indigenous peoples. 

Shifting cultivation is one integral component within a complex: agroecosystem: an ecosystem modified for agricultural use.

The argument can be made that if shifting cultivation is replaced by intensive commercial agriculture, such as palm oil or rubber plantations, the negative environmental impact is much greater.

SLASH AND BURN

Slash and burn farming is considered to be a type of shifting agriculture. However, slash and burn often alters landscapes permanently,  while fields under other types of shifting cultivation return regularly to cropland.

Slash and burn is most commonly participated in wet climates where dense vegetation covers the land.

Slash and burn farmers generally live on marginal land in the tropical rain forests of Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Tribal communities historically have used this technique to survive and still do so in the present day.

Slash and burn contributes to numerous environmental problems, including massive deforestation (loss of forest lands) and soil erosion—the wearing away of topsoil by wind, rain, and other phenomena.

Some argue that the practice of slash and burn can be sustainable if it is practiced by small populations in large forested areas and if the land is given adequate time to recover before the burn is repeated. 

This is supported by the fact that seven percent of worldwide agriculture is based on the slash and burn technique and some tribes have been doing it to up to 400 years!

TERRACING

Terracing: the process of carving parts of a hill or mountainside into small, level growing plots.

This method is used in mountainous areas in various climates. Farmers can cultivate crops in these rugged regions by building “steps” or terraces into the steep slopes and creating paddies for cultivating water-intensive crops such as rice. 

Through terracing, hilly or mountainous land that would otherwise be unusable becomes productive. 

Although terracing is labor intensive, it is often part of a cultural heritage and an undertaking that everyone in a community participates in to ensure that the entire system is well managed.

Maintaining the terraces is critical in preventing dangerous runoff and mudslides.

IRRIGATION

Humans have been using irrigation  for millennia, most commonly in areas without dependable precipitation. To supplement that rainfall water is brought from natural sources to farm fields through canals and other means. 

Irrigation can affect surface landscapes in many ways. Using irrigation, humans have transformed arid or semiarid landscapes into green fields.

Irrigation supports both small subsistence farms and major commercial agriculture operations.  

Reservoirs: Artificial lakes are created by building dams across streams and rivers.

Reservoirs are one common source of irrigation for crops in the United States. Canals carry water from the reservoirs to the fields and orchards where it is needed. 

People have also rerouted natural water paths to aid irrigation. Though sometimes this can have a negative effect, like with the Aral Sea and Colorado River. So much water was re-routed that both water sources dried out.

Some water sources tapped for irrigation lie below the land’s surface. Layers of underground sand, gravel, and rocks that contain and can release a usable amount of water are called  

aquifers:  a layer of permeable rock or sediment, that stores and transmits groundwater, acting as an underground reservoir where water can be accessed through wells

People tap into aquifers to access fresh water for both agriculture and household uses.

If not recharged or replenished by drainage through the soil, groundwater levels in aquifers can fall or even become completely depleted, leading to the destruction of the water resource. 

One advantage of groundwater is that the energy it requires is inexpensive and new technology makes it efficient. On the downside, it emits tons of carbon dioxide and is bad for the environment.

The United Nations estimates that within the next few decades, the world will need to increase food production by 60 percent to support its growing population. In order to avoid a crisis, farmers must manage how they draw water for irrigation.

DRAINING WETLANDS

Areas of land that are covered by or saturated with water—such as swamps, marshes, and bogs—are called  wetlands.

Draining wetlands and converting them into farmland has historically been viewed as an acceptable practice because these areas have been seen as wasteland and unimportant with soil that inhibits construction.

The Netherlands stands out among countries that have used wetland reclamation to increase land for farming and habitation. Around 17 percent of the country’s present land area was once under the sea or coastal wetland.

While drained wetland can be converted into agricultural land, there is habitat loss for water animals. 

There are also other environmental issues such as wetlands which help reduce storm and flood damage, improve water quality, and trap carbon dioxide that might otherwise be released into the atmosphere.  When they’re removed, there can be mass flooding.

PASTORAL NOMADISM

Pastoral nomadism, also called nomadic herding, is an extensive practice and generally a form of subsistence agriculture.

Pastoral nomads are herders who move their animals seasonally or as needed to allow the best grazing. 

Nomads and their herds range in dry climates in Southwest Asia, North Africa, the Arctic, and other regions where crop cultivation is difficult or impossible.

Traditionally, pastoral nomadism includes practices to preserve the resources upon which nomadic families depend, such as rotational grazing zones, limiting excess concentrations of people or animals, and protecting dry season resources.

Pastoral lands have degraded in areas where these practices have collapsed due to war, nationalization of resources, agricultural expansion, and societal change.

When pastoral nomadism is done wrong, there can be bad consequences. Overgrazing can cause land degradation, which is long-term damage to the soil’s ability to support life.

Desertification: a form of land degradation that occurs when soil deteriorates to a desert-like condition—can be the result of poor pastoral nomadism practices in arid or semiarid lands

When herds favor other plants over others, this leads to a decrease in biodiversity (variety of organisms in a location). Additionally, soil erosion can happen when livestock compact on soil with their hooves.

Pastoral nomadism with other agricultural practices have changed with urbanization and modernization. Some nomadic families move around with motorcycles rather than on foot.

So overall, all agricultural practices have an impact on the environment when farmlands and water are overused. There can be soil pollution and changes to the landscape with things like desertification.

Pollution

Run-off from farms that contain chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers can pose a harm to other organisms. These chemicals can inhibit plant growth and lead to low oxygen in bodies of water. There can be damage to habitats in lakes, ponds, and even oceans where marine life lives.

Land Cover Change

Land cover change refers to how the surface of the land is altered by different land uses. No matter what purpose humans transform the Earth’s surface for (usually for agriculture), there are environmental consequences that may be hard to undo.

Terraces for example can create groundwater saturation (hinders land's ability to absorb more water during heavy rains). Massive labor is required to properly maintain terraces, otherwise there can be landslides and other catastrophes.

An example of land cover change is deforestation. It is caused by slash and burn agriculture and logging. Deforested areas remove organisms' habitat, which leads to endangerment or extinction.

Soil Salinization

Irrigation can lead to short-term and long-term environmental damage such as  salinization , the process by which water-soluble salts build up in the soil.

Salinization occurs in arid and semiarid regions when water evaporates from the ground more rapidly than it is replenished by rain or irrigation, causing a concentration of salts in the soil. 

When salts accumulate in the root zone of a crop, the plants can no longer extract adequate water, which can in turn result in crop yield reductions.

Desertification

Desertification happens when water is consumed faster than it replenished. Poor pastoral nomadism can also lead to desertification, but there's also deforestation and stationary herds that leads to it.

Areas vulnerable to desertification are land with low rainfall. Desertification occurs much higher than the historical rate. It harms food supplies and endangers the health of the people due to the dust.

Governments seek to address the negative environmental effects of agricultural practices though policy and sustainability. The main focus is conservation which seeks to protect natural resources to prevent their depletion.

Conversation initiatives eek to manage and protect natural resources by spreading awareness and encourage farmers to change bad environmental agricultural practices

The plans and policies vary tremendously as to how environmental laws are implemented. There are also non governmental groups that help with these efforts.

International lending agencies like the world bank have established: Debt-for-nature swaps. In exchange for investment into conservation, the bank forgives a portion of a country’s debt. This is mainly done to peripheral countries.

Commercial Farming

In countries where large agribusiness corporations dominate agricultural practices, conversation is set on reducing environmental effects like air pollution.

The US for example, has a lot of programs with financial incentives for farmers to incorporate more sustainable practices into arm operations.

There are many other organizations at many different levels of analysis that seek to reduce environmental effects by agricultural practices done by agribusiness.

Subsistence Farming

In areas where subsistence farming is common soil fertility conservation is the main focus. Organizations seek to prevent soil erosion and increase yields by intensive land use.

Many of the sustainable practices applied to commercial farming can be used in subsistence agriculture but it is important to distinguish that large-scale commercial farmers may be motivated by higher yields leading to increased profits,  while subsistence farmers are more focused on survival and generally have lesser financial means and access to information

Therefore, subsistence agriculture needs different types of support to implement new techniques.

Societal Consequences

Societal consequences of agricultural practices are broad and varied, affecting diets, the roles of women in farming, the economic purpose of both farmers and consumers, and the lives of communities.

Consumers in many countries alter their diets in response to innovation ina agriculture. However, in most countries, longstanding agricultural practices still influence diets.

Some people prefer organic food rather than crops modified by GMOs (genetically modified organisms) as they believe that they can carry unknown health risks. Consumers purchase organically grown foods as they believe it is better for them and the environment.

The roles of women in agriculture vary much across different regions. Women who are postal nomads care for animals near the home. Women in aquaculture are entrepreneurs and laborers. 

In most countries, women face obstacles in agriculture due to gender discrimination.

Farms have also changed from smaller family owned to massive agribusiness owned farms. 

14.2 CHALLENGES OF CONTEMPORARY AGRICULTURE

Biotechnology, genetically modified organisms, and aquaculture are among the techniques at the forefront of efforts to expand food production. Because of these innovations, crop and production has gone up.

At the same time, these innovations are the center of controversy due to the risks to the environment and humans.

One key concern is sustainability. Sustainable agriculture encompasses environmental, economic, and social practices designed for the long term.

Farmers must manage the environment in a way that minimizes pollution of the air, soil, and water, in order to ensure continued productivity well into the future. At the same time, agriculture must also keep the farmers in business (make profit).

A healthy farm economy helps the good quality of farmers and farming communities and supports fair and reliable incomes for farm laborers.

Though, it has been concluded that there needs to be a balance between environmentally sustainable farming and the development of agricultural innovations to help feed a global population that will likely exceed ten billion people by the end of the century.

BIOTECHNOLOGY AND GMOS 

As you have read, a genetically modified organism (GMO) is a living organism with a genetic code that has been manipulated to produce certain desirable qualities. 

The use of genetic modification (GM) in agriculture is not a new concept: farmers have been improving plants and animals by selecting and breeding optimal characteristics for thousands of years. High-yield seeds introduced during the green revolution were a result of selective breeding.

Biotechnology  is the science of altering living organisms, often through genetic manipulation, to create new products for specific purposes, such as crops that resist certain pests.

Biotechnology has many benefits and can solve world hunger. But at a certain point, there’s just too much modification.

A success story of biotechnology is with Brazil. With soybeans, rice,and corn, it has been the forefront of biotechnology applications, making it an agricultural leader. The country is now the second largest producer of biotech crops

A global benefit of genetic engineering is the reduction in the cost of food production, which could lead to an increased supply of food, making food more affordable.

A potential disadvantage is that environmental impacts have not been studied nad are unkown. Their safety has not been proved and could pose harm to the environment and humans.

Experts also disagree on whether biotechnology decreases or increases agriculture’s impact on the diversity of species.

agricultural biodiversity: describes the variety and variability of plants, animals, and microorganisms that are used directly or indirectly for food and agriculture.

Agricultural biodiversity is integral to environmental sustainability. It is important to enabling agriculture to achieve productivity gains.

The argument that genetic engineering (bio tech) poses a threat to agricultural biodiversity is that the insertion of bacterial genes into a crop species of insects is eliminated.

Critics also argue that innovations meant to immunize chemical inputs can lead to more use of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers.

When herbicides are sprayed on these crops, the weeds die, but the crops survive because of the resistant genes. Pests that are constantly exposed to these inputs can develop their own genetic resistance, meaning either the genetically modified crops eventually become obsolete, or more chemicals are needed to eliminate the pests. 

There is also risk with soil fertility, as synthetic fertilizers meant to keep up with rising food demands can cause environmental farm. 

Regardless, it is a fact that the use of GE conserves water.

The monetary cost of new biotechnology can lead to farmers taking tremendous loans, leading to dangerous risks.

Overall biotechnology is limited to agribusiness due to its cost. 

Aquaculture

Aquaculture is another innovation of agriculture. It has many advantages. It is a type of fish farming that is less space- and care-intensive.

The practice can provide a constant supply of fish and seafood.

Aside from these economic benefits, aquaculture offers environmental advantages as well. 

Aquaculture, however, is not without its disadvantages. Concerns include water pollution from chemicals used in fish farming and excess nutrients such as fish waste. 

Aquaculture farmers use antibiotics to prevent disease among farmed fish, and these antibiotics can have a negative impact on the ecosystem. 

Another possible consequence involves the compromise of native gene pools if farmed fish and native fish interbreed. Farmers of wild fisheries also argue that aquaculture amplifies and transfers disease and parasites to wild fish populations.

Individual people's food choices drive the crops farmers grow and the way they grow their crops.

The goals of food choice movements include eating healthier foods, encouraging sustainable farming practices, and supporting independent farmers.

 Participants in food choice movements are enthusiastic about their benefits, but debate exists over whether they are effective  in bringing about large-scale changes.

LOCAL FOOD MOVEMENTS 

In the United States, some consumers are employing new and different ways to acquire fresh foods for their tables. 

Urban farming, for example, converts vacant lots, rooftops, or abandoned buildings into spaces to grow produce. In many inner-city areas of the United States, communities are banding together to collectively work these small plots as a way to provide fresh fruits and vegetables in areas where such foods are scarce

Consumers who participate in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) purchase shares in the output of a local farm..

Though, urban farms typically do not reach large populations, and most of the time they are not profitable.

Similar to CSAs, local food movements aim to connect  food producers and food consumers in the same geographic region. The connection between producers and consumers provides reassurance as consumers know where their food is coming from (in farm to table restaurants).

Organic Farming

Organic farming has become popular in response to GMOs. Organic farming is usually more expensive, but people are willing to pay (rich people). 

The practice involves using natural fertilizers and plant based products to perform sustainable agricultural practices. Biodiversity is maintained, soil health is maintained, and runoff contamination is limited.

Though some critics state that organic farming is no healthier than non-organic, the high price and demand means that organic foods will remain in demand and want.

FAIR TRADE AND VALUE-ADDED CROPS

To support agricultural sustainability and a better quality of life for growers, many consumers switch brands and pay more money.

Food choice changes in response to value-added specialty crops. These crops are transformed from their original state to a more valuable state, such as converting milk into cheese and yogurt. Coffee is another popular value-added crop.

Demand for value-added specialty crops come from the desire to eat more healthily, convenience, or both.

As agriculture continues to advance, new value-added agricultural products can be and have been created, each with pros and cons.

DIETARY SHIFTS

Meats are growing in demand globally, leading to more grains needed to feed livestock. Countries in the semi-periphery have experienced increases in income and urbanization as a result.

The rise of meat consumption is apparent across many countries. But the kind of meat, chicken, beef, lamb, demands on the costs of the land needed to feed and grow the crops.

It takes more feed to produce beef than chicken or pork, though precise statistics for beef are problematic, however, because the entire animal is not used for food.

There’s also a demand for processed food. In the USA, 5% of US corn harvest is used to make high-fructose corn syrup and other sweeteners.

Food choices affect agriculture, but the reverse is also true. Contemporary agricultural practices have transformed diets around the world, with agricultural improvements resulting in the possibility of consumers having access to more and varied foods.

Chapter 12 described the diffusion of foods, a process that began even before the Columbian Exchange and continues at a rapid pace today, thanks to globalization and modern technologies. 

You’ve also learned about global supply chains. Crops such as corn and sweet potatoes, which are indigenous to the Americas, can be exported across the globe thanks to expanded transportation methods and advanced storage systems. 

Refrigerated transport has allowed farmers to ship perishable food over long distances, overcoming the limitations of what can be grown in the local climate and terrain. 

As a result, shoppers in the United States can choose from a year-round variety of fresh produce that was unthinkable for earlier generations. 

For example, Chile, located in the Southern Hemisphere, has a growing season that is the opposite of that of the United States. With refrigerated transportation, Chile can provide American consumers with fresh fruit throughout the winter. 

Consumers in other core countries benefit equally from global food supply chains across climate regions. 

Improvements in aquaculture, meanwhile, have allowed sushi to remain an international favorite, and the UN reported that in 2019 aquaculture produced almost as much fish as wild fisheries. Farmed fish require around 1.1 pounds of feed to produce one pound of body mass.

Trade policies, too, may help change diets and individual tastes. In one instance, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) of 1994 resulted in a boom of avocado exports from Mexico to the United States. 

Mexico has produced avocados for thousands of years but exported very few—a situation that changed drastically with the enactment of NAFTA. Now Mexico produces approximately one-third of all avocados in the world, and avocados are the United States’s most valuable fruit import, in addition to being a regular feature of many Americans’ diets. 

In 2018, NAFTA was replaced by a revised trade agreement, the United States-Mexico-Canada agreement (USMCA), which provides similar trade protections. Together, trade policies, technology, and contemporary agriculture have boosted the process of diffusion to provide people around the world with a diverse, globalized diet.

14.3 FEEDING THE WORLD

Food security  is reliable access to safe, nutritious food that can support a healthy and active lifestyle. 

The opposing concept,  food insecurity , is the disruption of a household’s food intake or eating patterns because of poor access to food. 

Most commonly, food insecurity happens because of lack of money and resources.

In 2018, more than 700 million people suffered from severe food insecurity. 1.3 billion people experienced moderate food insecurity, in all, that is 25% of the world population.

820 million do not have access to healthy food, and in the US, 40 million suffer from food insecurity. Why do we still suffer from food insecurity in todays global market? Because a global supply chain doesn’t solve regional problems.

Much of food insecurity is the result of distribution issues and economic decision about what to do with new crops.

55% of overall crops feed people, while the others are used for livestock and biofuels. Decreasing the amount of crops needed for livestock and biofuels can decrease food insecurity.

Adverse weather is a threat to Earth’s ability to grow food. Severe storms, drought and temperatures caused by climate change are leaving more people in danger of food insecurity.

On the national level, weather instability, political instability, and chronic poverty can lead to food insecurity. 

When most of the people in a country are subsistence farmers, and the country is facing tough weather conditions, there are many who go into food insecurity and even famine. War and conflicts can also do the same.

Another threat to agricultural growth is growing urban areas. This is known as suburbanization

suburbanization , the shifting of population from cities into surrounding suburbs.

It has accelerated as increasing numbers of city dwellers seek advantages such as cheaper housing, more space, and lower crime rate.

Many cities in parts of the world grow rapidly, while many farmlands are near cities, urban areas seeking to grow can take that farm land.

Urban growth is different based on the scale of analysis. It is mainly negative when the reduction of agricultural land leads to less food. While some argue it could be neutral as agricultural practices advance less land is needed.

FOOD ISSUES IN THE UNITED STATES

Land in the US is also being lost to urban development Though poverty is linked to food insecurity, the two problems are not always connected. ALl people in poverty are not in food insecurity, and not all people above the poverty are exempt from food insecurity.

When other pills and expenses like medical bills come in people above the poverty line make go into food insecurity. Suprispling, most food-insecure americans are employed or in a household where at least one person is employed.

HUNGER AND CONFLICT

60% of the world’s hungry people (490 mil) live in countries affected by war, which is one of the key factors to food insecurity.

Food access can be used as weapon when food is denied to opposing groups by a group in ower. FOod distribution in conflict zones are inadequate and unequal due to poor political systems and corruption.

Humanitarian work seek to help people in war zones who are in need of food.

food deserts: areas where residents lack access to healthy, nutritious foods because stores selling these foods are too far away

Food deserts, whether rural or urban, are often characterized by a low median income, higher unemployment, and higher poverty rate

Poor distribution is a big factor to food insecurity. Complex social and economic factors can prevent consumers who need food most from getting it. Issues such as who has the authority to make decisions, what methods, and more aid in food insecurity.

Low-income families may not have adequate transportation to get food or may live an area where government services are not available. Overall, distribution is THE BIGGEST FACTOR to food insecurity.

STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION ISSUES

Farms, food-processing facilities nd markets where the food is sold is considerably distance from one another. Sometimes even countries away!

Bad infrastructure in peripheral countries means food cannot be properly transported. 25% of the world’s food calories are lost or wasted before consumed.  Farmers have limited access to storage and transportation.

By i proving rural insfastucutfres governments can strengthen their agriculture.

Economy of Scale is the reduced cost of producing food items as the quantity of production increases. 

For example, if fixed costs like tractor prices spread over many units of production, the return on investment is higher because the fixed price remains the same.

Economies of scale show that farming on a larger scale in more efficient than a smaller one. The average cost of production decreases as the farm increases.

Economy of scale also indirectly affects the way food is distributed.  Larger farms are less diversified and focus on one crop for profits, they can distribute these crops to far-reaching networks.

Meanwhile, smaller farmers can only distribute them locally.

GOVERNMENT POLICIES

In the US, large-scale farming  has led to cooperate landowners controlling most agricultural land. Largest farms  (5 mil + sales) account for less than 1% of farms but 35% of profit.

The largest commercial farms receive the majority of the approximately 20 billion annually from subsidies (a financial benefit given by the government to farmers).

Government subsidy programs go mainly to farms that make corn, soybeans and wheat. 

Subsides have the power to control farmers' decisions and what they grow. Farmers feel they must choose the crops that are most cost-effective.

Changing diets in wealthier countries has the potential to free up more croplands to grow food.

14.4 WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE

Women produce more than 50 percent of the world’s food and make up 43 percent of the agricultural labor force.

Women’s role in agriculture varies much across the world. Women throughout the world are in many different sectors of agriculture. 

As agriculture changes because of technology, science, and economic and social pressures, the role of women within the sector changes too.

In peripheral countries, women are largely limited to participation in subsistence agriculture. 

An example of this is in Malawi, where opportunities for commercial farming (good) is limited by a gender basis. Moreover, women weren’t given training on farming techniques needed.

The most difficult gender-specific challenge that women working in agriculture face is the lack of land rights. In many peripheral countries, women are not landholders and don’t have legal control.

In some peripheral countries, even unspoken gender roles can be rigid and keep women from taking their crops to market. Women may need her husband’s consent to get a loan, and more.

With these setbacks, women cannot purchase the needed materials to run a farm.

Women in agriculture face harsh conditions and unpaid labor, especially on family farms. In India, as men migrate to cities, women take on more farm work but are still expected to handle household duties. 

In Latin America and the Caribbean, 40% of working women lack personal income, despite many working in agriculture.

Women play diverse and evolving roles in agriculture across different countries. In the United States, women make up 36% of agricultural decision-makers, and in some cases, they earn more than their male counterparts. Many female ranchers, like Kelsey Ducheneaux, focus on sustainable ranching, continuing traditions that have existed for generations. 

However, despite progress, women in U.S. agriculture still face obstacles, including resistance from male counterparts. For example, Tara Meyer, a highly educated dairy farmer, is often referred to as a "farm wife" despite being an equal partner in her business.

In Europe, women are heavily involved in food distribution, often surpassing men in these roles. In France, 41% of new agricultural businesses are started by women, and they play a key role in food sovereignty movements. 

In Italy, one-third of farms are run by women, and they manage 40% of businesses in the growing agritourism sector, which blends farming with tourism by offering farm stays and locally sourced meals.

Beyond production and distribution, women’s roles in food consumption have also changed. Traditionally responsible for selecting, cooking, and serving food, women are shifting away from these roles due to economic growth and workforce participation. 

In Singapore, for example, more women are working, leading to an increase in dining out and reliance on domestic workers for food-related decisions.

In smaller countries like Cyprus, grandmothers often make food decisions despite women working outside the home. 

Research shows women spend more of their income on food than men.

Empowering women in agriculture improves food security and economic growth. Research shows that if women had equal access to resources, productivity could rise by 20–30%, reducing hunger by up to 150 million people. 

In regions like Southeast Asia and parts of sub-Saharan Africa, women have more control over land and income, helping them achieve economic independence.

The steps to empowering female farmers include education, technical support, access to capital, and government policies that promote gender equality.

There are several government organizations working to help this. Governments and supranational organizations, too, are implementing measures to advance women’s empowerment in agriculture, such as the UN.

Whatever the organization or focus is, agencies working to empower female farmers see the women in agriculture decreases food insecurity, gives better quality of life for women, and more.