A growing gender imbalance in agricultural advisory services across West and Central Africa is putting the region’s food security at risk, according to the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
At the opening of a three-day regional training workshop in Accra, both institutions sounded the alarm over the persistent marginalisation of women, despite their dominant presence along the agricultural value chain—from production to post-harvest activities.
Held under the Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP), the workshop is equipping agricultural researchers and professionals with tools and strategies to integrate gender and social inclusion in research, technology adoption, and advisory services across agro-sylvo-pastoral and fisheries sectors.
Dr Mariame Maiga, CORAF’s Regional Gender Advisor, emphasized that systemic gender inequalities were eroding gains in agricultural productivity. She pointed to the lack of female agricultural extension officers and limited access to inputs, services, and innovation, which she attributed to entrenched cultural biases.
“This lack of gender balance in technical roles not only undermines women’s contributions but also weakens our ability to achieve sustainable food systems,” Dr Maiga said. She called for targeted incentives, skills development, and inclusive communication strategies to empower women across all stages of the value chain.
Madam Terefe Bethel, Senior Gender Expert at FAO, reinforced the message, noting that women farmers remain disproportionately underserved despite their crucial role in agriculture. She stressed that closing the gender gap would not only strengthen food systems but also lift rural families out of poverty.
“We must mainstream gender into every policy, programme, and extension effort if we want real impact,” she stated.
Dr Kyky Ganyo, FSRP-CORAF Assistant Coordinator, noted the limited female representation in agricultural extension services and said addressing the imbalance is key to unlocking technology-driven growth in African agriculture.
As climate challenges and population growth place increasing pressure on Africa’s food systems, CORAF and FAO insist that gender-sensitive reforms in agricultural support services are not optional—but essential.
