Ministry of Agriculture Highlights Women’s Role in the Sector

Mexico’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) highlights the contributions of women in agriculture and fisheries. Women participate in all stages of the supply chain, from land preparation to food processing and sales.

According to data from December 2024, 894,608 women were engaged in primary activities such as farming, livestock, forestry, hunting, and fishing, representing 15.2% of the sector’s workforce. The 2022 Agricultural Census by INEGI reported that 19% of agricultural production units were led by women. These units averaged 8.8ha, nearly 6ha smaller than those managed by men. Puebla had the highest percentage of female-led production units at 12.8%.

Women in agriculture face disparities in access to resources. While 41.6% of male-led units had access to tractors, only 37.2% of female-led units did. Additionally, 3.4% of female producers owned a tractor, compared to 8.7% of their male counterparts.

The majority of women in the sector are over 45 years old, with 49.6% identifying as Indigenous. Of this group, 61.9% speak an Indigenous language, while 1% self-identifies as Afro-Mexican. Educational attainment is also a challenge, as nearly 20% of female producers have no formal education, and 47% have only completed primary school.