Bangladesh has officially launched the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 (IYWF 2026), signalling a renewed national commitment to closing gender gaps in agriculture and strengthening the role of women in food systems.
The Ministry of Agriculture inaugurated the year-long programme during an Interagency Coordination Committee (IACC) meeting held at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) on April 5, 2026. The initiative brings together key stakeholders, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the World Food Programme (WFP), UN Women, and other national and international partners.
The event was opened by Rafiqul I Mohamed, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Chair of the IACC, alongside Jiaoqun Shi, FAO Representative in Bangladesh and IACC Co-Chair. The launch marks the beginning of a series of activities aimed at raising awareness, promoting investment, and enhancing the leadership of women farmers in building resilient and food-secure communities.
The United Nations General Assembly has designated 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer to highlight the urgent need to address gender disparities in agriculture. The global observance seeks to improve women’s access to resources, services, and opportunities, while recognizing their vital contributions to sustainable agriculture and agrifood systems transformation.
Senior representatives from key government ministries, UN agencies, development partners, diplomatic missions, research institutions, and farmers’ organizations attended the event, reflecting broad-based support for the initiative.
Speaking at the launch, Rafiqul I Mohamed described the year as “not just a celebration, but a call to action”, urging stakeholders to invest in women farmers and inspire young women to view agriculture as a pathway to entrepreneurship, dignity, and leadership. Jiaoqun Shi reaffirmed FAO’s commitment to supporting Bangladesh through innovative programmes and investment initiatives designed to empower smallholder women farmers and deliver lasting benefits to rural communities.
Rita Bramma, President of the Sara Bangla Krishak Society, welcomed the initiative, noting that improved access to finance, skills, and opportunities would enable women farmers to build stronger and more resilient agricultural communities.
As part of IYWF 2026, FAO outlined several flagship initiatives, including the “GreenRoots Farm Lab for Farming Women” in southern Bangladesh to support environmentally sustainable micro-enterprises, an Agricultural Women Investment Forum aligned with the FAO Hand-in-Hand Initiative, and a “Farming Women Conference (Nari Krishak Shommilon)” in the northern region.
The launch marks a significant milestone in Bangladesh’s efforts to promote inclusive agricultural development and ensure women farmers play a central role in achieving national food security and the Sustainable Development Goals.
