World Day of Rural Women: The power of their knowledge and the obstacles they face

In addition to managing their households and performing tasks traditionally associated with women, rural women represent more than 50% of the formal food production force in the world. They are the main producers of staple foods such as rice or wheat, in addition to being responsible for small-scale agriculture.

Because of their traditional knowledge and methods of working the land, women ensure the food security of their communities and also on a larger level, in their countries, they strengthen their economies and build resilience to climate change by preparing their communities and mobilizing them to preserve the land and natural resources. 

At the same time, rural women are especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change because they face droughts, floods, and natural disasters that affect crops and their lives. They are more likely to lose their lives during extreme events and, due to various gender-related barriers, in Latin America, they control less than 20% of agricultural land, have no access to technical assistance, and therefore have little influence in decision-making, few possibilities to invest, and higher levels of poverty. 

The World Day of Rural Women is celebrated on October 15, since UNESCO established it in 2008 day of recognition of the role and contribution of rural women to agricultural development, food security, and the reduction of rural poverty. 

For the Inter-American Institute for Climate Change Research (IAI) it is important to honor the knowledge and work of rural women and raise awareness in society about their contribution and the gaps they face so that there are more initiatives in public policies that have a gender perspective, and so that they have a better quality of life and can exercise their rights more equitably.

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