Asia’s rural women call for food sovereignty

THE Asian Rural Women’s Coalition (ARWC) – representing peasants, agricultural workers, indigenous women, Dalit women, workers and migrants – joins women across the world this month in commemorating International Women’s Day yesterday. We salute rural women globally who remain resolute in the struggle for food sovereignty and gender justice amid escalating attacks on women’s rights and the right to land and resources.

On average, women make up about 43% of the agricultural labour force in developing countries. As much as 70% of employed women in South Asia work in agriculture. Yet, women in agriculture are more likely than men to hold seasonal, part-time and low-wage jobs. Rural women receive lower wages for the same work, and also work longer hours, in addition to their domestic and care duties.