Archana Priyam Hazarika
Every year, women-headed farming households in South Asia lose an estimated USD 37 billion due to climate-induced income losses—8 per cent more than their male counterparts (FAO, 2023). As monsoons become erratic and droughts intensify, women—who form the backbone of the region’s agricultural workforce—are being hit the hardest. Yet, despite making up 71 per cent of the sector’s workforce, they remain the most under-resourced, struggling to access land, irrigation, and financial credit.
Climate change is not just an environmental crisis—it is a gender crisis. Women farmers face societal barriers that weaken their ability to adapt. Most work on land they do not own, limiting their ability to invest in climate-resilient farming. They earn only 82 cents for every dollar men make, and gender norms often confine them to subsistence farming rather than high-value crop production, further shrinking their economic opportunities.
Extreme weather events worsen these disparities. Prolonged droughts and shifting monsoons force women to spend more hours fetching water, firewood, and managing household responsibilities. Without access to climate-smart technologies like drought-resistant crops or efficient irrigation systems, their ability to adapt is severely restricted. In a country like India, where agriculture is deeply tied to climatic patterns, changing weather conditions have created a new layer of burden for women farmers. An issue brief released by IPE Global, the study states that 84 per cent of Indian districts are classified as extreme heatwave hotspots, with approximately 70 per cent experiencing increasingly frequent and unpredictable rainfall especially during the monsoon season over the past three decades (Mohanty, 2024). These climate extremes make it even harder for women to sustain their livelihoods, as unreliable rainfall and rising temperatures reduce crop yields, increase water stress, and intensify labour burdens. In Vietnam, for example, 71 per cent of rural women lack access to agricultural extension services and climate adaptation tools (UNCC, 2021), a pattern mirrored across South Asia.
As climate shocks grow more frequent, these inequalities threaten food security, economic stability, and rural resilience. Tackling them requires targeted policies that empower women farmers, integrate gender perspectives into climate action, and close the resource gap—before the crisis worsens.
The Urgency of Climate Change: Why Women Farmers Face the Greatest Risks
For women working in agriculture, climate change is a silent predator, exacerbating health risks through prolonged exposure to extreme weather and hazardous conditions. In India, women frequently suffer from spinal injuries due to carrying heavy agricultural loads. In Pakistan, pesticide exposure leads to heat strokes and skin disorders (ADB, 2024). Waterlogged fields pose additional dangers, increasing reproductive health issues such as placental insufficiency, miscarriages, and urinary tract infections.
The financial barriers women face in agriculture deepen their vulnerabilities. Despite being the backbone of rural economies, women receive only 10 per cent of agricultural training and a mere 5 per cent of available credit—a stark contrast to their male counterparts (FAO, 2023). This economic insecurity fuels a vicious cycle, driving higher school dropout rates among girls, an increase in early marriages, and rising incidents of gender-based violence. As climate change forces men to migrate in search of work, women are left to shoulder the dual responsibility of farming and household management with limited resources and support.
Successful Adaptation Stories: Indian Women Farmers Cooperatives
Despite these challenges, women farmers across India are leading remarkable adaptation initiatives. The Millet Network of India, spearheaded by women farmers, promotes millet cultivation—an environmentally resilient alternative to water-intensive crops like rice. In Bihar, Bina Devi, also known as the ‘Mushroom Mahila,’ has transformed rural women’s livelihoods by pioneering mushroom farming, demonstrating how sustainable agricultural techniques can empower female farmers.
Key Takeaways for Gender-Responsive Agriculture
To build a more inclusive and climate-resilient agricultural sector, which includes improving access to climate-resilient technologies and empowering women farmers through financial inclusion and decision-making roles, governments and stakeholders must prioritise gender-focused strategies. Key interventions include:
Expand Gender-Sensitive Climate Finance: Direct more financial support to women-led climate adaptation projects and integrate gender-focused investments into national adaptation plans and climate finance mechanisms.
Strengthen Access to Climate-Smart Technologies: Provide subsidies, training, and agricultural extension services that equip women with irrigation systems, drought-resistant seeds, and digital tools.
Enhance Women’s Representation in Decision-Making: Establish women-led farmer cooperatives and ensure their participation in climate policy discussions at local and national levels.
Gender equity is not just a social issue—it drives economic and environmental resilience. By dismantling societal inequalities through targeted policies, financial investments, and inclusive governance, South Asia can build a sustainable agricultural future that benefits everyone.
References:
1. Nguyen, Ha, Sofie Mortensen, and Pin Pravalprukskul. 2019. “Pathways for Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture in South and Southeast Asia.” https://www.sei.org/publications/pathways-for-womens-empowerment-in-agriculture-in-south-and-southeast-asia/.
2. AICCRA (Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa). 2024. “From Gender Gaps to Gender-Transformative Climate-Smart Agriculture.” https://aiccra.cgiar.org/publications/gender-gaps-gender-transformative-climate-smart-agriculture.
3. UN Women. 2022. “Explainer: How Gender Inequality and Climate Change Are Interconnected.” https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/explainer/2022/02/explainer-how-gender-inequality-and-climate-change-are-interconnected.
4. UN Women. 2023. “Climate Change and Women in Agriculture.” https://asiapacific.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/2023-05/02-issue-brief_climate-change-and-women-in-agriculture.pdf.
5. FAO United Nations. 2024. “The Climate Crisis Is Unjust for Rural Women: FAO Gender Expert.” https://www.fao.org/newsroom/detail/the-climate-crisis-is-unjust-for-rural-women–fao-gender-expert/en. 6. FAO. 2023. “The Status of Women in Agrifood Systems.” https://doi.org/10.4060/cc5343en.
7. Thawaney, Sharon Sarah. 2024. “Empowering Women in Agriculture: A Gendered Approach to Climate Change and Food Security.” https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/empowering-women-in-agriculture-a-gendered-approach-to-climate-change-and-food-security.
8. CCAFS (CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security). 2019. “Two States in Nepal Implement Climate-Smart Villages, Aiming to Reach 6,000,000 Farmers.” https://ccafs.exposure.co/making-an-impact-on-climate-change-adaptation-and-mitigation-around-the-world.
(Archana Priyam Hazarika is a Research Analyst of Climate Change and Sustainability Practice at IPE Global, an international development organisation. The views expressed are her own.)
