APFP-FO4A Stories of Impact: Advancing Women’s Role in Agriculture

Women are the backbone of agriculture. They plant, harvest, process, trade, and nurture their families and communities. Yet for too long, their contributions have often gone unrecognized.

Through the APFP-FO4A program, women farmers in Asia are stepping into leadership, building enterprises, and transforming their communities. The program has reached 17,411 direct women beneficiaries, empowering them as producers, leaders, entrepreneurs, and decision-makers.

By strengthening women’s capacities in value addition, enterprise development, leadership, and organizational management, APFP-FO4A has helped women turn local products into sustainable business opportunities. Across the region, women are growing successful enterprises, strengthening cooperatives, increasing household incomes, and contributing to more resilient rural economies.

The impact goes beyond individual success. As women gain confidence, skills, and leadership roles, they become powerful agents of change within their organizations and communities.

Because when women farmers are empowered, entire communities thrive.

The Asia-Pacific Farmers’ Program (APFP) – Farmers’ Organizations for Asia (FO4A) was implemented by the Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA) and La Via Campesina (LVC), with funding from the European Union (EU) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The program aimed to strengthen the capacities of farmers’ organizations to provide economic services, advocate for enabling policies, and promote sustainable livelihoods for small-scale family farmers across Asia.