Case Study

Seeds of Success: Stories of IFC's work to improve the lives of women in agribusiness value chains

September 20, 2021

According to the FAO, women make up on average 43% of the agricultural workforce in developing countries. Female participation in value chains is critical, yet they still face gender-specific constraints and challenges in owning, accessing, and controlling resources that affect their productivity, livelihood, and income.

These are stories of collaboration, gender advancement, and women empowerment. Our protagonists have many things in common: they are women, they are farmers, and they have benefited from their participation in IFC and its partners’ initiatives in agribusiness value chains. We believe in creating and implementing Gender-Smart Solutions to close gender gaps in the sector, thus increasing agricultural yields and revenues, improving wages, and helping women expand to new, favorable markets. In our experience, supporting women as agents of change positively impacts the well-being of their communities.

Contents

  • In India's Jharkhand, A Farmer's Journey from Subsistence to Surplus
  • A Sweeter Business for Female Sugarcane Farmers in India's Uttar Pradesh
  • Bypassing Brokers: Creating Safe Spaces for Women Farmers in Tamil Nadu, India
  • The Krishi Sakhi Effect: Women Farmers Who Positively Impact Their Communities
  • With Hybrid Seeds, Business Blossoms for Women Smallholders in Bangladesh
  • Training and Tech Help Khulna’s Women Farmers Thrive in Bangladesh
  • How a Solar- Powered Water Pump Is Changing Lives in Makwanpur, Nepal
  • How Climate- Smart Training Aids Women Smallholders in Southeastern Nepal