Throughout the South Asian region, women account for about 39 percent of the agricultural workforce, working as managers of land to agricultural laborers. The well-recognized low status of women in South Asia also has implications for women’s involvement in agriculture and the returns to women of their inputs into agriculture.

Experience and research findings from South Asia indicate that women’s involvement in agriculture is not supported by a corresponding recognition of women as key stakeholders in agriculture. Women continue to have limited access to productive resources and services, markets and marketing facilities. Women’s involvement in agriculture and their status in their households and communities also have implications for access to food for them and other vulnerable household members such as children.

With this in mind, the Aga Khan Foundation and the International Food Policy Research Institute will hold a workshop in New Delhi from August 12-14, 2008 on Women in Agriculture in South Asia. Participants at the workshop will discuss strategies that contribute to the process of mainstreaming and institutionalizing successful approaches in agriculture development that have improved and facilitated women’s access to productive resources and services, markets, food and nutrition.