Leveraging women in agriculture to spur economic growth

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OPINION

By Francis Bwengye

Agriculture has long stood as the backbone of Uganda’s economy, sustaining livelihoods, feeding families, and anchoring rural development across our diverse regions. Yet for too long, the sector’s energy and potential have not been fully harnessed, particularly in empowering women, who form a substantial portion of the agricultural workforce. As Uganda pursues inclusive growth, our national conversation and development strategies must place women at the centre of agricultural progress.

First, let us acknowledge agriculture’s essential role in our economy. It employs the majority of Uganda’s labour force, provides raw materials for agro-processing, and sustains food security for millions. From smallholder farms to cooperative societies, agricultural activity generates income and opportunities that can lift households out of poverty. Yet gender disparities have constrained the sector’s growth. Women farmers often face unequal access to land rights, credit, extension services, inputs, and technologies—constraints that hinder productivity and dampen rural incomes’ flow into the broader economy. By addressing these gendered barriers, we unlock a substantial multiplier effect benefiting families, communities, and national development goals.

We are grateful for the unwavering support of the Government of Uganda and our development partners in recognising agriculture and gender equality as strategic priorities. Government commitments through policy reform, budget allocations, and strengthened extension services have laid a solid foundation for more inclusive agricultural development. Development partners have complemented these efforts with technical assistance, grants for climate-smart agriculture, women’s empowerment programs, and initiatives that promote access to finance and market linkages.

Why empowering women farmers is critical

Recognising that empowering women farmers expands not only household incomes but the entire rural economy is central to our efforts. When women secure land rights, access credit, receive appropriate extension support, and participate effectively in value chains, their increased productivity and bargaining power raise household consumption, stimulate demand for local goods and services, and attract investment in agro-processing and infrastructure. This ripple effect accelerates growth, creates jobs, and builds resilience against shocks. The shift also advances gender equality, which has its own proven multiplier effects on health, education, and future economic potential.

The central question, therefore, is how to translate these commitments into concrete outcomes for women in agriculture. This transformation begins with expanding women’s access to productive resources by securing their land tenure rights, simplifying land registration processes, and supporting women’s ownership through targeted legal reforms and community education. Strengthening women-led farmer groups and cooperative models is equally critical, as these structures increase access to inputs, technology, and market bargaining power.

Improving access to credit and financial services remains a fundamental pillar. Gender-responsive financial products tailored for smallholder women—such as affordable working capital, crop insurance, and flexible savings schemes—must be scaled up. Financial institutions should be encouraged to assess women’s creditworthiness using performance metrics beyond collateral, including yield history and community-based guarantees. In addition, investing in gender-responsive extension services will ensure that training is accessible to women by considering their time constraints, childcare responsibilities, and mobility challenges. Deploying more women extension agents also enhances communication and trust.

Technology that reduces labour intensity and increases yields must become more widely available. Climate-smart practices, irrigation, drought-resistant crop varieties, and post-harvest processing innovations can significantly improve women’s productivity. Strengthening market linkages and value addition is equally important. Supporting women-owned micro-enterprises in agro-processing, packaging, and value addition, as well as creating gender-sensitive supply chains with fair pricing, timely payments, and access to export markets, will position women more competitively. Access to market information and digital platforms should be expanded to empower women to connect directly with buyers and negotiate better terms.

As climate variability continues to impact agriculture, embedding climate resilience into all interventions is essential. Policies must integrate women-led climate adaptation and ensure that women have a meaningful voice in designing resilient farming systems. Training in sustainable land management, water harvesting, and soil health will safeguard livelihoods and create more robust farming systems. To track progress and ensure accountability, a robust monitoring framework with gender-sensitive indicators is needed. Disaggregated data on income changes, asset ownership, and employment in agriculture will enable policymakers to evaluate whether interventions are delivering results and achieving national employment targets.

In pursuing these actions, we must maintain a people-centred narrative that highlights the lived experiences of women farmers, their families, and their communities. The goal is not merely to increase output but to create a more equitable, productive, and resilient agricultural sector that contributes meaningfully to national growth and job creation. If employment targets rise to 600,000 or more new jobs in agriculture and agro-processing, as envisioned in policy frameworks, empowering women will be indispensable.

Media Called to Action

In this effort to spur women-led development through agriculture, media outlets like New Vision have a great role to play. This can be achieved through highlighting success stories, monitoring policy implementation, and holding stakeholders accountable. I, therefore, urge editors, writers, and policymakers to elevate reporting on women in agriculture, shed light on existing bottlenecks, and celebrate innovations that enable women to scale their operations and contribute to the economy in meaningful ways.

Your continued commitment to national development by providing a platform where critical conversations about gender, agriculture, and economic growth can be thoughtfully explored cannot be overemphasised. With sustained media attention, greater policy coherence, and targeted investments, Uganda can unlock the full economic potential of its women farmers and strengthen the country’s prosperity.

The writer is an Accountant and passionate agriculturalist

Email: Bwengye22@gmail.com