The international community recognizes the important contributions made by women to food security and the fight against poverty, but women farmers continue to be a marginalised group within the agricultural sector. Thoughout the world, women farmers play a vital role in supporting the family unit and community by providing food in developing countries. 80% of the food produced is produced by women. They are key players in day-to-day agricultural tasks, the instigators of activities that generate agricultural and non-agricultural income and the custodians of natural and productive resources. Given the importance of their involvement in the agricultural and rural sector, women should be recognized as valuable assets for rural communities, and we should all be aware of the countless results that could be achieved by investing in women farmers.

The IFAP Committee of Women Farmers is a permanent discussion group devoted to the development of women farmers’ activities, the recognition of their rights and needs and the broadening of their representation within farmers’ organizations.

Officers of the Committee:

President: Karen Serres (France)

Vice-Presidents: Nune Harutyunyan (Armenia), Lucila Quintana Acuna (Peru), Mary Akwia Anecho (Uganda), and Sue Beitlich (USA). Sarala Gopalan (India) is recognized as the Committee's expert.

Aims

• Promote the status of women farmers all over the world and make their working and living conditions known

• Strengthen the capacities of women farmers through their full and active participation in farmers' organisations, in decision-making bodies and in IFAP activities

• Advocate women farmers’ interests within international organisations and through the IFAP policy statements and bring their concerns to the attention of intergovernmental institutions and other bodies

• Support the creation and the strengthening of independent representative structures of women farmers within national farmers organisations

• Encourage solidarity among women farmers, especially between industrialised and developing countries

Functions

• Act as a forum in which women farmers of national agricultural organisations can meet to:
• Highlight their mutual interests and common concerns
• Elaborate actions to further such interests and build recommendations on agricultural policies to lobby international organisations and governments
• Develop a good understanding of world issues

• Exchange ideas and experiences and disseminate information on, and for, women farmersEnsure the representation of women in delegations speaking for farmers at international level and support  the effective participation of women farmers in relevant programmes
• Organise international conferences and workshops to discuss agricultural, economic and social policy issues that affect women in agriculture
• Inspire and support farmers organisations' activities designed to respond to the needs of women farmers
• Develop cooperation among women in leadership positions and with other stakeholders of the agricultural sector

Communications Package for World Rural Women's Day 2009, including Recommendation from the IFAP Women Farmers' Committee