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By: Josiah Pailay
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Monrovia, Liberia – Limited access to land is stifling the potential of women in Liberia’s agriculture sector, a situation that demands urgent policy and institutional intervention, says Agnes Fred, Program Coordinator at Women in Agriculture and Sustainable Development (WASUDEV).
Speaking at a recent Agriculture Journalism Seminar, Madam Fred highlighted the persistent structural and cultural barriers that prevent women from owning or accessing land, a critical resource for agricultural production.
“Women constitute the backbone of our food production system, yet they remain sidelined when it comes to land ownership and access,” she said. “This imbalance is not only unfair but detrimental to Liberia’s goals of achieving food security and economic resilience.”
According to Fred, the majority of women farmers operate on borrowed land or insecure tenure arrangements, which limit their ability to invest in long-term farming practices, secure loans, or expand their agricultural ventures. She emphasized that without land security, women are unable to participate meaningfully in commercial agriculture, reducing their role to mere subsistence farming.
“Land is the foundation of agriculture. If women can’t access or control it, they can’t plan, invest, or grow,” she stressed.
Fred made a passionate appeal to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Liberia’s Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) to scale up efforts aimed at empowering women through equitable land policies and access initiatives. She proposed that both institutions collaborate with community leaders, traditional authorities, and financial institutions to break down the barriers that marginalize women in agriculture.
“We are calling on FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture to create targeted programs that enable women to acquire and own farmland. Support for land tenure reforms, land grants for women’s cooperatives, and inclusive land policies must be a national priority,” Fred urged.
In addition to her call to policymakers and donors, Madam Fred also charged the Liberian media to be more proactive in advocating for women in agriculture. She encouraged journalists to tell the stories of rural women farmers, amplify their challenges, and push for policy reforms through consistent coverage and public awareness campaigns.
“The media must become a powerful ally in this fight. Let us use our platforms to highlight the voices of women farmers and call for their rights to land and resources,” she said.
Experts agree that improving land access for women is key to achieving several development goals. Research shows that when women farmers have secure land rights, agricultural productivity increases, household incomes improve, and community nutrition outcomes rise.
“Women’s participation in agriculture is not just a gender issue—it’s an economic necessity,” Fred emphasized. “Empowering women with land means empowering entire communities. It drives food security, reduces poverty, and lays the foundation for sustainable development.” She underscored.
She concluded with a resounding call to action: “We must act now. Empowering women in agriculture is not a favor—it is a strategic investment in the future of Liberia.”
