Agrilife24.ccom:The Ministry of Agriculture officially launched the national activities for the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 (IYWF 2026) during the Interagency Coordination Committee (IACC) meeting held at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) on 5th April 2026.
Led by the Ministry of Agriculture, the initiative brought together key partners including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) along with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP), UN Women and other relevant stakeholders. The launch reflects a shared commitment to elevating women farmers as leaders in food security, climate resilience, and agricultural transformation across Bangladesh.
The event was officially inaugurated by Honorable Rafiqul I Mohamed, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Chair of the IACC, along with Jiaoqun Shi, FAO Representative in Bangladesh and IACC Co-Chair. The ceremony marked the commencement of year-long activities aimed at raising awareness, empowering, and investing in women farmers while strengthening their leadership in building resilient and food-secure communities.
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has declared 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer to raise awareness and promote action to close the gender gaps and improve farming, women’s access to resources and services, and support women’s leadership in agrifood systems, recognizing their critical contributions to sustainable agriculture and food systems transformation. The global observance underscores the need for inclusive policies, equitable access to resources, and stronger recognition of women farmers’ roles.
In addition to the Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and the FAO Representative; the event was attended by representatives from key ministries including Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Ministry of Food, UN agencies including IFAD, UNDP, UN Women, WFP; development partners, representatives from diplomatic communities and international partners including the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, United States Department of Agriculture, Asian Development Bank, International Rice Research Institute, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), civil society organizations, leaders from farmers associations like Sara Bangla Krishak Society.
Speaking at the event, Rafiqul I Mohamed, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, stated:
“This is not just a year of celebration; it is a year of action. It is a call to acknowledge, invest in, and stand beside the millions of women who feed our nation every day. It is also an opportunity to inspire the next generation of young women to see agriculture not just as labour, but as a pathway to entrepreneurship, dignity, and leadership.”
He added, “Let us work together government, United Nations agencies, development partners, civil society organizations, and communities to make 2026 a transformative year for women farmers in Bangladesh.”
In his remarks, Jiaoqun Shi, FAO Representative in Bangladesh, reaffirmed FAO’s commitment:
“FAO, together with the other UN’s Rome-Based Agencies,IFAD and WFP and our valued development partners, stands fully ready to support the Government of Bangladesh in making this International Year meaningful and impactful. FAO will be implementing innovative initiatives like women led green micro-enterprise incubator” and will galvanize strong investment programs that will empower smallholder women farmers for lasting benefits to rural communities.”
Rita Bramma, President of the Sara Bangla Krishak Society, (a leading farmer’s organization in Bangladesh), welcomed the initiatives and commitments by various organizations. She said, “The International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 initiatives will support women like me through better access to investment, skills, and opportunities, helping us build stronger, more resilient farming communities.”
FAO Bangladesh will continue working alongside the Government and relevant stakeholders to build a resilient and more inclusive agricultural future, guided by FAO’s vision of the Four Betters: Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment, and a Better Life,leaving no one behind.
As part of its support, FAO outlined several key initiatives under IYWF 2026:
- Pilot “GreenRoots Farm Lab for Farming Women” in the southern region, aimed at greening women-led micro-enterprises with potential for future scale-up.
- Agricultural Women Investment Forum aligned with the FAO Hand-in-Hand Initiative.
- “Farming Women Conference (Nari Krishak Shommilon)” in the northern region, in collaboration with the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Department of Livestock Services (DLS), Department of Fisheries (DoF), and development partners, under the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.
The launch of IYWF 2026 marks a significant milestone in Bangladesh’s efforts to recognize and strengthen the role of women farmers, ensuring their contributions are central to achieving sustainable development goals and national food security.