As food producers, however, women face even more difficulties than men. In many countries women are not able to own or inherit property. Women have fewer opportunities than men to take advantage of technical training, agricultural extension services, and financial credit (58, 117, 133). In sub-Saharan Africa, for example, women comprise 60% of the total agricultural labor force but receive less than 1% of the credit available to agriculture (117). These handicaps have contributed to a "feminization of poverty"—that is, a disproportionate share of the world's poor are women (117, 135).

Furthermore, in some countries women are the victims of food discrimination. In parts of South Asia, for example, despite the fact that women and older girls do most of the heavy work (except plowing), men and boys often consume twice as many calories (133). Only 20% to 40% of all women of childbearing age in the developing world receive the minimum caloric requirement for a healthy, productive life—an daily diet of 2,200 calories (115).

Policies and programs can address discrimination against women and girls. For example, in the early 1990s India passed a law granting women equal rights with men, including the right to own and inherit land. Authorities hope that, if the law can be enforced at the district level, women will be on a more equal footing with men and will be better able to participate in community development programs (118). Introduction of school gardens and supplemental feeding programs for children in day care centers and primary schools can encourage poor families to send their girl children to school so they can be fed.

Agricultural services can be linked with family planning services in the field wherever practicable and appropriate (49, 99). In some poor rural areas, where reproductive health services are not widely available, agricultural extension agents have been trained to provide contraceptive information and supplies, at least until health services could be introduced. For example, in the Philippines and Kenya women are being employed as agricultural extension workers in an effort to address the needs of women farmers. Some of these workers have been trained to provide family planning information and advice (107, 117).

Improving access to health care, including a range of reproductive health and family planning services, is vital to help women improve their lives, including being better able to obtain enough to eat (33, 99, 108, 133). Giving women more choices—to have the number of children they prefer, to go to school, and to participate more in economic activities—can benefit communities, as well, with higher productivity, better resource management, and greater family well-being (59, 115, 117, 135).

Women play an important role in food production. As cities expand, urban farmers, such as Mrs. Cao Renping in her greenhouse near Beijing, are producing increasing amounts of food.