Empowering Women Farmers
Women Farmers Expand Livelihoods and Economic Independence Across Africa and America
Anonymous
Key Points
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The UN Women-supported rice mill substantially improved processing yields: 10 mudus of paddy that previously produced barely four mudus of poorly polished, stone-contaminated rice now produces more saleable rice through the improved equipment.
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Maria Rungulani Baloyi’s cooperative won a combined R165,000 in South Africa’s 2025 Woman Farmer of the Year competition—R90,000 in the smallholder category and R75,000 as the overall winner—and later won another combined R175,000, which Baloyi said would be reinvested in the farm.
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The U.S. farming stories highlight the sector’s generational challenge: the 2022 Census of Agriculture put the average farmer’s age at 58.1, while producers older than 65 control most farmland and are expected to retire in coming years.
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Beyond the individual farming examples, UNHCR is seeking partners in Mozambique to develop market-based livelihoods programs for refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced people, returnees and host communities facing barriers caused by conflict and extreme weather.
Women farmers across Africa and the United States are turning agriculture into a path to financial independence and stronger households. From mushroom cultivation in Uganda to rice milling in Nigeria and commercial farming in South Africa, these women are building businesses that generate income, create jobs and address rural service gaps. Their success stories reveal both the potential of agricultural entrepreneurship and the barriers—land access, high costs, limited mentorship—that women farmers still face.
Mushrooms and Rice Mills Transform Rural Incomes
In Mbale, Uganda, women have shifted from seasonal foraging to year-round mushroom cultivation. This low-land farming method generates steady income used to pay for food, education and other household expenses. The approach reduces economic volatility tied to seasonal work and gives families predictable revenue streams.
A UN Women-supported rice mill in Dabarkda, Nigeria has dramatically improved processing efficiency. Ten mudus of paddy rice that previously yielded barely four mudus of poorly polished, stone-contaminated rice now produces substantially more saleable rice through improved equipment. The mill has also reduced travel time, processing costs and unpaid-care burdens for women traders.
South African Cooperative Grows From Backyard to Commercial Scale
Maria Rungulani Baloyi's cooperative started as a backyard garden and has expanded into a 10-hectare commercial farm supplying retailers, institutions and regional markets. The operation now employs multiple workers and generates sufficient revenue to support reinvestment and growth.
Baloyi's farm won a combined R165,000 in South Africa's 2025 Woman Farmer of the Year competition—R90,000 in the smallholder category and R75,000 as the overall winner. Later that year, the farm won an additional combined R175,000, which Baloyi said would be reinvested directly into farm expansion and operations. These awards have provided crucial capital for equipment and infrastructure improvements.
U.S. Women Farmers Navigate High Costs and Land Barriers
In the United States, women livestock and dairy farmers face significant structural obstacles. Ohio livestock farmer Gina Orr and New York dairy farmer Melissa Moody both emphasize how mentorship, careful planning and personal resilience have allowed them to enter farming despite high startup costs, limited land access and competition from established operations.
The U.S. farming sector faces a generational crisis. According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, the average farmer's age is 58.1 years. Producers older than 65 control most farmland and are expected to retire in coming years, creating both opportunity and urgency for new farmers entering the sector.
UNHCR Expands Livelihoods Support in Refugee Communities
Beyond individual farming success stories, UNHCR is seeking partners in Mozambique to develop market-based livelihoods programs for refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced people, returnees and host communities. These populations face barriers caused by ongoing conflict and extreme weather that limit income-generating opportunities.
The initiative recognizes that sustainable livelihoods require both individual entrepreneurship and systemic support. Access to markets, tools, training and capital determines whether vulnerable populations can build stable incomes and reduce dependence on humanitarian assistance.
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