Egypt&rsquo;s agriculture sector is a cornerstone of the country&rsquo;s economy, contributing significantly to employment and food security. Agriculture contributes 11.6% on average to Egypt&rsquo;s gross domestic product (GDP) and approximately 25% of its total employment. Although women are a significant part of the agricultural labor force, they encounter numerous barriers that hinder their performance and income, among them their limited access to agricultural extension services that are specifically tailored to women farmers&rsquo; needs.&nbsp;
Agricultural extension services are one of the most common and effective programs for providing farmers with information about useful new practices and technological techniques. They play a crucial role in disseminating knowledge, providing technical assistance, and facilitating the adoption of modern agricultural practices. Extension services enable farmers to enhance productivity, increase their yields, improve their livelihoods, and adapt to the repercussions of climate change. Such services are especially vital for small-scale farmers in low- and middle-income countries. 
These programs can be operated through top-down or bottom-up approaches. Top-down approaches typically involve training and visits, whereas bottom-up approaches encourage the establishment of agricultural field schools or peer farmer learning. However, extension services in Egypt predominantly target male farmers, neglecting the particular needs and circumstances of women farmers. This perpetuates inequalities and limits overall agricultural productivity since it creates unequal access to resources and support, thus hindering women&rsquo;s ability to contribute fully to agricultural productivity.
Empowering women farmers is not only an avenue to gender equality but also a vital step toward achieving sustainable agricultural development. It is imperative to enhance agricultural extension services and implement policies that support women farmers, enabling them to overcome existing constraints and contribute fully to food security, poverty reduction, and economic growth. 
This article sheds light on the pressing need to improve agricultural extension services specifically tailored to women farmers, while examining the role of public policy in facilitating access to these services.&nbsp;
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">The Current State of Women in Agriculture</h3>
A major contributor to female employment in Egypt, the agricultural sector employs around 45% of Egyptian women in the labor force. Informality is prevalent in the agricultural sector, with up to 94% of agricultural workers dependent on informal employment. While women work in both the formal and informal agricultural sector, they are concentrated in the latter. About 28% of the labor force is formally employed in agriculture, only 20% of them women. Put another way, 5.6% of women in the work force are formally employed in the agriculture sector, compared to 22.4% of men.
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The agricultural sector employs around 45% of Egyptian women in the labor force
Overall, the agriculture sector is responsible for 32.4% of women&rsquo;s informal employment, making them particularly vulnerable to economic shocks and volatile conditions.
Women work in various agricultural sub-sectors such as crops, livestock, and fisheries, and they are extensively involved in labor-intensive activities, including harvesting, manual pest control, and weeding. About 94% of the harvesting in Upper Egypt is done by women and 67% in Lower Egypt. although the ease of harvesting varies with the types of crops grown in each area.&nbsp;
In Upper Egypt, common crops such as wheat, sugarcane, and barley generally require hand harvesting, including cutting and threshing. This process can be complex and labor-intensive, potentially making crop harvesting more challenging.&nbsp;
In contrast, in Lower Egypt, agricultural practices are more diverse. The cultivation of crops such as rice, vegetables, and fruits is prevalent across the Delta. Moreover, the region is home to more large-scale agricultural operations and in greater proximity to urban centers, meaning mechanized harvesting is more common. Crop cultivation and harvesting are thus less demanding processes.&nbsp;
Women in rural areas have limited access to information and technological practices offered by agricultural extension services&rsquo; centers. Furthermore, these services are primarily focused on crops like maize, cotton, wheat, and rice, while vegetable and fruit crops, which claim the majority of female labor, receive limited services.&nbsp;
Additionally, despite playing a substantial role in agricultural activities, women control little farmland in Egypt, making up only 5.2% of total agricultural landholders. This could be attributed to erroneous interpretations of religion as well as cultural and social norms. Men may deny women&rsquo;s lawful inheritance, ignoring Islamic law, with the claim that women are not required to financially support their families. But even when penalties for depriving women of their rightful inheritance are strictly imposed, in rural areas women are still denied their inherited agricultural land.&nbsp;
In addition, patriarchal social norms also often restrict women&rsquo;s mobility and their decision-making power, which limits their access to resources. Women also lack access to valid information about their rights due to various factors, including high illiteracy and their limited power of negotiation and control.
The agricultural sector in Egypt is characterized by a gender wage gap, with women typically working part-time or seasonal jobs. These women are often from disadvantaged families, have limited assets, and labor in unregulated working conditions. The average daily wage for a seasonal farm worker in Egypt is $5-8. This exacerbates the poverty rate, which in rural areas is already high at 32%. Furthermore, the International Labor Organization (ILO) classified agriculture as one of the six lowest-paying sectors for women.&nbsp;
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"Agricultural extension programs should adopt a gender-responsive approach that targets women farmers"
Regarding access to credit and finance, only 1 out of 26 long-term borrowers and one-third of short-term borrowers are women. Women are at a particular disadvantage because they are less likely to own assets or land, and so cannot meet the collateral requirements for bank loans.&nbsp;
<h3>Supportive Policy Practices</h3>
Agricultural extension services act as a bridge between farmers, research institutions, and policymakers, but these services often fail to adequately reach and cater to women farmers&rsquo; needs and circumstances. Inclusive, comprehensive policy practices should thus be considered to foster an enabling environment for female farmers.
Gender-Responsive Approach:&nbsp;
Agricultural extension programs should adopt a gender-responsive approach that targets women farmers, recognizing their specific needs, roles, and challenges. They can incorporate capacity-building programs that specifically address women&rsquo;s disadvantaged circumstances. Training programs should be designed to enhance women farmers&rsquo; skills and knowledge, enabling them to adopt sustainable agricultural practices, improve productivity, and diversify their income. Moreover, entrepreneurial training is crucial for empowering women to actively participate in various activities. 
Access to information and Technology:
Promoting the adoption of technology can enhance women farmers&rsquo; efficiency, leading to increasing yields. Women farmers should have access to up-to-date agricultural information and modern farming practices. This can be achieved through the establishment of women&rsquo;s agricultural centers, as well as mobile applications and online platforms for young farmers that provide relevant and easily accessible resources.&nbsp;
Access to Financial Services:&nbsp;
Improving women farmers&rsquo; access to credit, microfinance, and insurance services is essential to address their limited access to agricultural short-term and long-term loans. Specialized financial institutions should be encouraged to provide women farmers with customized financial products. 
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"Promoting the adoption of technology can enhance women farmers&rsquo; efficiency, leading to increasing yields"
Additionally, simplified collateral procedures and financial literacy programs should be top priorities to reform women&rsquo;s status in the agricultural sector.
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
Women play a substantial role in the agricultural sector in Egypt, accounting for a significant proportion of the agricultural labor force, but they face pressing challenges that can undermine their performance and living standards. Egypt is devoting much attention to tapping the potential of women in the agricultural sector, which would improve standards of living and food security.&nbsp;
This article highlighted the importance of agricultural extension services as a bridge between farmers, research institutions, and policymakers. It proposed key policies that could better the conditions of women in the agricultural sector, including adopting a gender-responsive approach, encouraging access to information and technology, and providing sufficient access to financial services that enhance the effectiveness and inclusivity of agricultural extension services.&nbsp;
<hr>
References:
<ul>
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<li dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Abdul Lateef Jameel Poverty Action Lab. (2023). <a href="https://www.povertyactionlab.org/policy-insight/improving-agricultural-information-and-extension-services-increase-small-scale?utm_medium=Social&amp;utm_source=LinkedIn&amp;utm_campaign=policy-insight&amp;utm_content=ag-extension">Improving agricultural information and extension services to increase small-scale farmer productivity</a>.</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Ahmed, L., &amp; Shaheen, Y. (2022). <a href="https://documents.aucegypt.edu/Docs/GAPP/GAPP%20Policy%20Brief%20Issue%2019.pdf">The climate-gender nexus: A deep dive into the Egyptian women&rsquo;s agricultural sector</a> (GAPP Policy Brief Series). Department of Public Policy and Administration, School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, American University in Cairo.</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics. (2022). Statistical yearbook.</li>
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<li dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Food and Agriculture Organization. (2022a). <a href="https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/CB7909EN">Country gender assessment of the agriculture and rural sector: Egypt</a>.<a href="https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/CB7909EN"> </a></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Food and Agriculture Organization. (2022b). <a href="https://www.fao.org/3/cc0452en/cc0452en.pdf">Gender, water, and agriculture: Assessing the nexus in Egypt</a>.<a href="https://www.fao.org/3/cc0452en/cc0452en.pdf"> </a></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">International Labor Organization. (2020). <a href="https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---africa/---ro-abidjan/---sro-cairo/documents/publication/wcms_754765.pdf">Sector selection and rapid market assessment in Egypt&rsquo;s agribusiness sector: Focus on dairy and medicinal and aromatic plants (MAP).</a></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Kandeel, A. (2017, October 19). <a href="https://www.mei.edu/publications/millions-rural-working-womenegypt-risk-climate-change">Millions of rural working women in Egypt at risk from climate change. Middle East Institute</a>.</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Ministry of Planning and Economic Development. (2021, November 27)<a href="https://mped.gov.eg/singlenews?id=839&amp;type=previous&amp;lang=en">. Egypt&rsquo;s Ministry of Planning, NIGSD held a round table on &ldquo;women&rsquo;s empowerment and agricultural technology in MENA.&rdquo;&nbsp;</a></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Najjar, D., Percic, M., Baruah, B., Aw-Hassan, A., &amp; Stloukal, L. (2017). <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11766/7449">Women, decent work and empowerment in rural Egypt</a>. International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas.</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">UN Women Egypt. (2018). <a href="https://egypt.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Field%20Office%20Egypt/Attachments/Publications/2019/04/The%20Business%20Case%20%20Final%20Report%2026%20Sept2019optimized.pdf">The business case for improving women&rsquo;s working conditions in the agribusiness sector in Egypt</a>.</li>
</ul>

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