(Addis Ababa, March 13, 2026 – Ministry of Agriculture)
Efforts are underway to reduce gender inequality in the agricultural sector and to ensure the participation and benefits of women farmers. As part of this effort, stakeholders held discussions on the draft National Gender Equality Strategy for the Agriculture Sector (GESA).
State Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Sofia Kassa, stated that although the gender equality strategy prepared for the agricultural sector may not address all the concerns of women farmers, it serves as a guiding framework indicating priority areas and actions to be taken.
She noted that even though there has been ongoing hard work on women’s participation and benefits, gaps remain. Therefore, Dr. Sofia emphasized that institutions need to develop clear strategies to ensure gender equality and women’s empowerment.
She further highlighted that the strategy is essential for gender equality in agriculture, and stressed that it should be finalized and implemented within a short period of time.
On her part, Genet Abdela, Executive of Women and Social Affairs Inclusion at the Ministry of Agriculture, stated that the strategy will play a key role in ensuring women’s participation, benefits, and overall success.
GESA, on its revision, has been aligned with the revised Agricultural and Rural Development Policy and the Ten-Year Strategic Plan of the Ministry. It incorporates major components aimed at increasing women’s participation and benefits across all four agricultural subsectors, as well as improving women’s representation in leadership positions.
It was also indicated that once implemented, the strategy will be in effect for ten years, from 2026 to 2035, and will require an estimated budget of 762.1 million US dollars for its full implementation.
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