As we all know, agriculture has long been referred to as the backbone of Pakistan’s economy. However, the more accurate depiction of this reality is that agriculture and women together form the true backbone of this country. Recent statistics highlight that around 68% of women, compared to just 28% of men, are actively engaged in agriculture. Yet, despite their substantial contribution, women’s roles in this sector largely remain unrecognized and unregistered. This is due to multiple barriers, such as limited access to resources, lack of knowledge, and absence of decision-making power. The contributions of women, particularly in agriculture and livestock, often go unpaid and undervalued, reflecting a broader pattern of systemic gender inequality.
In this context, it is essential to reference a recent observance by the International Water Management Institute, which celebrated International Women’s Day under the theme “Investing in women is the key to Pakistan’s agricultural growth.” This theme resonates deeply with me, as it summarizes the undeniable truth that to achieve food security and sustainable agricultural development in Pakistan, empowering rural women economically, socially, and politically is not merely a necessity—it is a vital imperative.
True empowerment, however, will only be achieved when we collectively challenge and transform the societal norms, cultural traditions, and social regulations that continue to impede women’s rights. In many parts of rural Pakistan, women lack rights to land ownership, relegating them to a status where key decisions are made by male guardians, often leaving their contributions undervalued. This pervasive issue—where rural women are relegated to unpaid household labor—requires urgent attention and action.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO, 2011), agriculture accounts for 21.4% of Pakistan’s GDP and contributes 45% to the overall economic growth of the country. Within this framework, the agriculture sector plays a critical role in alleviating poverty, as it is the primary source of livelihood for Pakistan’s rural poor. The sector is divided into four sub-sectors: livestock, forestry, agricultural production, and fisheries. Rural women contribute significantly to agricultural production and livestock, playing indispensable roles in planting, harvesting, and nurturing crops. Yet, despite their significant engagement, their contributions are often left unacknowledged in monetary terms.
At this juncture, it is crucial to address the ways in which we can elevate the status of rural women and all women in Pakistan. This will require the collective efforts of the government, the agricultural sector, social organizations, and both public and private institutions. Together, we must work toward advancing women’s empowerment, ensuring that every woman in Pakistan has the opportunity to rise and contribute to the nation’s growth and development.
We are all aware that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by world leaders in 2015, place women’s empowerment at the forefront of international development efforts. As defined by many researchers, empowerment is both a process and an outcome—a process through which women and other marginalized groups break free from centuries-old systems of subjugation and inequality.
Klasen (1999) highlighted the critical role of women’s empowerment in driving sustainable economic growth and reducing poverty in developing nations. In the context of Pakistan, achieving gender equality in agriculture is not just a moral imperative; it is a strategic necessity. Empowered women contribute significantly to agricultural productivity, food security, and broader socio-economic development.
The Pakistani government, political entities, and numerous non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are actively working to implement policies that support rural women. Programs such as the Gender Reform Action Plans (GRAPs) and the Benazir Income Support Program (2012) are testament to these efforts. International organizations such as CARE, WGEF, USAID, IFAD, IFPRI, and OPHI are also playing pivotal roles in improving female empowerment in agriculture.
However, as we strive toward women’s empowerment, we must acknowledge the challenges that persist—challenges that vary across different regions, customs, and traditions. Pakistan is still predominantly a male-dominated society, and women face numerous barriers, such as limited access to resources, restricted credit options, and other systemic hurdles that prevent them from realizing their full potential.
Research has shown that access to higher education and employment opportunities strengthens women’s decision-making abilities, thus contributing to their empowerment and driving societal transformation. In countries where women have been trained and educated in agriculture, their contributions have been recognized, and their status elevated to that of “agricultural workers,” paving the way for economic and social progress.
In conclusion, I strongly advocate for the initiation of short-duration training programs that target rural women, equipping them with professional skills that will enable them to add value to various agricultural sectors. These training programs could focus on fields such as Livestock Management, Crop Production, Agro-Processing and Value Addition (such as dairy products, fruits, and vegetables), Horticulture and Floriculture, Agroforestry, Aquaculture, Farm Management, Agricultural Engineering, and Rural Entrepreneurship and Microfinance.
By empowering women with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in these areas, we can contribute to the economic growth of the agricultural sector, reduce gender inequality, and improve the overall well-being of rural communities across Pakistan. By working together to empower women in agriculture, we pave the way for a brighter, more inclusive future.