Empowering Women in Sundarbans Inclusive Farming Shows the Path Forward for Climate-Resilient Communities

This opinion piece by George Richards outlines the crucial findings of a major climate and sustainability project in India, led by one of the world's most prominent climate-focused NGOs. Specifically, the article outlines the potential benefits of inclusive farming for women in pastoral communities.

- George Richards

While it is now almost universally acknowledged that vulnerable communities are disproportionately affected by the dangers of climate change, the risks faced by women in these regions are less often discussed yet require more urgent action given their outsized impact.

One of the key factors exacerbating women's plight is the lack of land ownership, but new, inclusive farming initiatives provide cause for hope. In patriarchal societies, women are frequently denied access to land, leaving them without a secure foundation to weather the storm of climate-induced adversities.

Empowering Women in Communities

Inclusive farming emerges as a powerful solution to the climate crisis in lower- and middle-income countries hit hard by rising waters, volatile weather, drought, and other challenges. By granting women and families the means to grow their own crops, it not only ensures food security but also serves as a catalyst for economic opportunity.

Empowering women in agriculture also has a ripple effect, positively influencing entire communities. Increased income and improved food security translate into better health and education outcomes, creating a positive cycle of development. Indeed, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), if women had the same access to productive resources as men, they could increase yields on their farms by 20-30 per cent, whilst the World Bank reports that closing the gender gap in agriculture could reduce the number of hungry people in the world by 100-150 million.