Women farmers lead the way: Heifer International launches Asia campaign to amplify their voices

Heifer International launches Asia campaign amplifying women farmers’ voices, showcasing leadership, financial inclusion, and stories from Nepal and Cambodia while urging policy support and investment to transform rural economies sustainably.

Heifer International, a global non-profit organisation, has launched its regional campaign in Asia, “She Has a Story to Tell. Are You Listening?”, aiming to elevate the voices, leadership and economic contributions of women farmers across the continent. The virtual event brought together women farmers, policymakers, investors, media and development partners to highlight their central role in food systems and rural economies.

Aligned with the UN International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF) 2026, the campaign seeks to shift perceptions and challenge outdated stereotypes, recognising women farmers as decision-makers, entrepreneurs and leaders, not invisible labourers.

The launch featured the short film “Who is a Woman Farmer?”, capturing public perceptions, alongside testimonies from women farmers in Nepal and Cambodia. Samjhana Khadka, a farmer from Melung, Nepal, shared:

“Farming alone was not enough to sustain our livelihood. With Heifer’s training and support, I gained new skills, confidence and independence. Today, I am not just a farmer but an agripreneur. It is about dignity, recognition and the power to dream.”

Sorn Pov, a self-help group leader from Siem Reap, Cambodia, added, “Through Heifer’s support, our cooperative has saved approximately 45 million Cambodian riel (USD 11,250). Opportunities were once limited but today, our lives have transformed.”

Highlighting systemic inequalities, Reehana Rifat Raza, Regional Director for Asia Pacific at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), noted, “Women make up 75% of cooperative beneficiaries and hold 59% of leadership roles in Nepal, showing a shift from participation to leadership. Sustaining this progress requires strong policy commitment and targeted investment.”

Prasun Kumar Das, Secretary General of the Asia-Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA), emphasised inclusive finance: “Women farmers balance productive work with unpaid care responsibilities while navigating structural and social constraints that limit access to markets and financial services.”

Campaign ambassador Prajakta Koli urged a shift in narrative: “We don’t say ‘male farmer,’ so why ‘female farmer’? Why are women spoken about but not listened to? Storytelling humanises data. When we see who produces our food, we value it differently.”

Heifer International estimates the campaign will reach thousands of women farmers across Asia, promoting self-help groups, financial access and training programmes to strengthen livelihoods. Future activities include regional forums, advocacy events and partnerships with policymakers and investors to scale women-led agriculture initiatives.

The campaign’s central message is clear: women farmers have a story to tell. The real question is whether the world is ready to listen and act.