Your Shot: Who Runs the Harvest (Girls)

When pop star Beyoncé wrote her female empowerment anthem, “Run the World (Girls),” she probably wasn’t focused on who runs the farms that feed us. But she could have.

Women make up 43 percent of agriculture workers in developing countries, yet they tend to be less productive than men because they have less access to information, money, and help with other household responsibilities, according to a 2011 report on the state of agriculture by the Food and Agriculture Organization. “The gender gap imposes real costs on society in terms of lost agricultural output, food security and economic growth,” the report says.

To fix it, many aid groups have prioritized focusing on women: creating agricultural outreach programs to help educate them on running a businesses,

DON'T MISS THE REST OF THIS STORY!
Create a free account to continue and get unlimited access to hundreds of Nat Geo articles, plus newsletters.

Create your free account to continue reading

No credit card required. Unlimited access to free content.
Or get a Premium Subscription to access the best of Nat Geo - just $19
SUBSCRIBE

Read This Next

Is banning fishing bad for fishermen? Not in this marine reserve
SeaWorld allegedly violated the Animal Welfare Act. Why is it still open?
'World’s worst shipwreck' was bloodier than we thought

Go Further

Subscriber Exclusive Content

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet