Empowering female farmers through education and training: A review

Female farmers produce food, manage natural resources, and stabilise rural livelihoods. Yet many face systemic barriers in education, skills development, and access to extension services. These limits reduce productivity, income, and resilience. They also weaken food security. Recent evidence shows that women remain a large share of the agricultural workforce, while gender gaps persist in wages, advisory services, and climate vulnerability. In 2023, women made up 39.6% of the global agricultural workforce. Across agrifood systems, women also continue to earn less than men, including in agriculture, where average female wages are lower. A growing body of research links these gaps to unequal access to training, inputs, land, and decision-making power rather than to differences in farming ability. This review synthesises evidence on how education and training can close capability gaps and improve outcomes for women farmers. It covers delivery models, content priorities, digital and blended learning, and gender-responsive extension design. It draws on global data and illustrative cases, including video-mediated training for women farmers in Bihar, India, and community-based learning through FAO’s Dimitra Clubs. It also highlights India’s Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) as an institutional approach that links women’s collectives with practical skills, agroecology, and market-oriented training. The review concludes with design principles, measurement guidance, and research priorities to strengthen impact at scale.