Women Farmers Battle Climate Crisis and Informal Employment

October 5, 2026 · Milliyet Ekonomi

While 13.2% of global food is lost in the supply chain, women producers, forming the backbone of the agricultural workforce, face the impacts of the climate crisis and high rates of informal employment.

Global Food Loss and Environmental Impacts

According to the Food Loss Index data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 13.2% of the food produced globally is lost in the supply chain from post-harvest to the retail stage. According to a report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the loss and waste due to unconsumed food are directly responsible for 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Every wasted agricultural product means wasted water, energy, land, and labor. Therefore, transitioning to a circular economy model is critically important for protecting agricultural systems.

Sustainable Development and Agricultural Workforce

In line with the Sustainable Development Goals, the aim is to reduce post-harvest losses in supply chains and halve food waste by 2030. Small-scale producers provide about one-third of the global food supply, and women farmers constitute 40% of this agricultural workforce. However, women producers are in a more vulnerable position against the climate crisis due to limited access to resources. Each day with extremely high temperatures reduces the total value of crops produced by women farmers by 3% compared to male producers.

Informal Labor of Women in Turkish Agriculture

Although women form the cornerstone of agricultural production in Turkey, they experience significant employment insecurity. According to official data, approximately 92% of women working in the agricultural sector in our country are employed informally. This labor, which occurs without contracts, social security, and often as unpaid family work, ensures the continuity of crop and animal production. This invisible contribution to farming activities makes them the most vulnerable group in the face of drought and extreme weather events caused by the climate crisis.

Double Burden of Work in the Field and at Home

Hülya Rencüzoğulları Nehir, President of the Samandağ Women's Solidarity Association, evaluates the working conditions on the ground with the following words:

'The women we encounter in the field do not own the land or the produce; they are women who work for daily wages in the most labor-intensive stages of production such as planting, sowing, weeding, tying, harvesting, and transportation. This labor, which ensures the continuation of food production, is often invisible in employment data and economic assessments due to informal work and lack of social security. The workday for women does not end when they leave the field. Upon returning to their homes or living spaces (containers, shantytowns, etc.), they continue with tasks such as preparing meals, cleaning, meeting children's needs, and caring for elderly, disabled, or sick family members. For a woman working for hours in extreme heat, this means a double burden of work on the same day. If the climate crisis makes agricultural production more difficult, changes working periods and conditions, or shrinks production areas, one of the first consequences will be income loss for women working for daily wages.'

Women's Leadership for Resilient Food Systems

It is emphasized that women, who are involved in every stage of agricultural production, must be empowered to combat food loss. Dr. Ayşegül Selışık, Assistant FAO Representative in Turkey, highlights the importance of the issue with the following statements:

'The knowledge, experience, and leadership of women must be at the center of policies to combat food loss and waste. Empowering women farmers, increasing their access to sustainable agricultural practices, and ensuring greater representation in decision-making mechanisms are essential not only for gender equality but also for securing women farmers' access to climate-resilient agricultural practices, land, finance, and technology, for more resilient food systems, stronger climate policies, and a more sustainable future.'

Achieving this transformation will increase productivity and food security in agricultural production.

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