PAID ACCESS | Published on : 23-Jan-2026 | Pages: 20-29 | Doi : 10.37446/edibook142024/20-29
Organic farming is not only an environmentally sustainable agricultural practice but also a transformative pathway for addressing gender inequality and fostering inclusive rural development. This chapter investigates how organic agriculture intersects with gender roles and dynamics, emphasizing both the challenges and opportunities for women within organic farming systems. It explores how traditional agricultural knowledge, often held by women, can be leveraged in organic practices to improve food sovereignty and community resilience. Moreover, organic farming models that emphasize diversity, local input use, and cooperative organization can enhance women’s participation, decision-making power, and income generation. Despite its promise, structural barriers such as limited land ownership, labor burden, restricted access to certification, and underrepresentation in policy spaces continue to hinder women’s full involvement in organic agriculture. The chapter presents case studies from India, Uganda, and Latin America, which highlight innovative gender-inclusive models and grassroots efforts aimed at closing this gap. It also offers a comprehensive policy analysis, focusing on reforms in land rights, education, certification processes, and financial inclusion. Through theoretical perspectives and real-world practices, this work underscores the potential of organic agriculture as a gender-responsive approach that can lead to equitable livelihoods, ecological resilience, and sustainable community development.
Organic farming, Gender equality, Sustainable agriculture, Women in agriculture, Empowerment
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