9 September, 2026
By Mrs Adelaida Pérez Milán, Head of Consultancy at Incatema
Every 9 September we celebrate World Agriculture Day, a day that takes on special significance this year as it falls within the International Year of Women Farmers 2026. At Incatema, we believe it is essential that the central objective of this period – raising the profile of women in the rural sector and accelerating gender equality in global agri-food systems – ceases to be a mere declaration of intent and becomes the strategic cornerstone of any agricultural development project.
The reality we observe on the ground every day, particularly on the African continent, confirms that agriculture cannot progress without women’s leadership. According to the latest data from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) as 76 per cent of working women in sub-Saharan Africa are employed in agri-food systems.
Despite this, setbacks and disparities persist at an alarming rate. On average, women earn 82 cents for every dollar earned by men in agriculture. At the same time, over 90 per cent of their jobs in the region are in the informal sector.
This precarious situation not only limits their decision-making capacity but also exposes them to greater vulnerability. In fact, according to the latest figures, 11.2 million more women than men faced severe food insecurity. For all these reasons, accelerating gender equality is not just a matter of social justice; it is a fundamental macroeconomic pillar for the continent’s development.
As the FAO and the World Bank themselves maintain, closing the gender gap and empowering women in rural areas could increase global GDP by one trillion dollars and lift 45 million people out of food insecurity. In Africa alone, which holds the greatest potential for arable land on the planet, disregarding half of its productive workforce is an unaffordable luxury.
At Incatema, we recognise that the modernisation and professionalisation of the agricultural sector are the most effective tools for women’s empowerment. Our ongoing work in the Republic of Angola, through technical assistance to the Commercial Agriculture Development Programme (PDAC) funded by the World Bank and the French Development Agency, is proof of this.
By drawing up business plans and designing efficient irrigation infrastructure for farms, our technical assistance is linked to promoting the formal employment of women and young people, thereby improving their working conditions and accommodation in rural areas.
Similarly, through strategic and institutional projects such as MOSAP 3, aimed at transforming and certifying agriculture and livestock farming for export, we seek to ensure that the transition from subsistence family farming to commercial farming builds truly inclusive value chains. Today, true innovation in the primary sector lies in empowering women with resources, training and rights. At Incatema, we will continue to contribute our international expertise to build a resilient, profitable and equitable agricultural model that enables Africa, driven by its women farmers, to feed the world sustainably