« Rural women farmers, guardians of nature » This is the theme of the International Day of Rural Women, celebrated this Thursday. In Haiti, where agriculture accounted for 47 per cent of total employment in 2025, according to estimates by the International Labour Organization (ILO) taken up by the World Bank, women play an important role in food production and marketing. FAO also points out that more than 70 per cent of Haitian farmers are women, highlighting their importance in the national agricultural sector.
Despite this contribution, access to productive resources remains a major obstacle. According to a World Bank assessment of gender inequality in Haiti, only 8 per cent of rural women own land, compared with 20 per cent of men. Difficulties in access to finance, agricultural inputs and infrastructure also limit opportunities to develop farms and raise incomes. These constraints add to the degradation of watersheds and exposure to natural disasters, which undermine the production and livelihoods of rural families.
Proclaimed by the United Nations, this day aims to recognize the contribution of rural women to development and food security. In Haiti, the observed data and challenges underscore the need to strengthen their land rights, access to credit, training and agricultural technologies. The challenge is also economic: improving the production and marketing conditions of women farmers, especially those supplying markets, could help to increase rural incomes and the availability of food in the country.
