Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) held a working meeting focused on gender equality in agriculture and rural development in Uzbekistan. The event provided a platform for discussing key challenges faced by rural women and exploring opportunities to enhance their rights and empowerment within the agricultural sector.

Rural women constitute a significant part of Uzbekistan’s agricultural workforce, yet their role is often limited to informal and low-paid jobs. Their access to productive resources, social services, and technical knowledge remains restricted. Experts highlight that rural women in the region are at risk of being "left behind," as the burden of domestic work in rural areas can take twice as much time as it does for urban women, depriving them of many life opportunities.

For FAO, gender equality is not just a matter of social justice but also a crucial factor in improving the efficiency of agri-food systems. According to FAO’s global report The Status of Women in Agri-Food Systems, closing the gender gap in agriculture could boost the global economy by nearly $1 trillion and help 45 million people escape hunger.

During the meeting, experts presented findings from the updated Country Gender Assessment for Uzbekistan. This report was prepared as part of the project Leaving No One Behind: Enhancing Engagement and Empowerment of Rural Women in Türkiye and Central Asia, supported by the FAO-Türkiye Partnership Program.

Experts noted that Uzbekistan has made significant progress in promoting gender equality in recent years. Key achievements include the adoption of the Law on Guarantees of Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women and Men (2019) and the National Strategy for Achieving Gender Equality 2020–2030. However, despite these reforms, major challenges persist, particularly regarding women’s unequal access to resources and opportunities in agriculture.

FAO emphasizes that rural women are not just participants in the agricultural sector but also potential leaders, innovators, and drivers of change. Empowering them can be a catalyst for sustainable development in agri-food systems and poverty reduction.

Participants, including representatives of sectoral ministries, parliamentarians, civil society, and farmers, discussed the report’s recommendations and ways to implement them. Special attention was given to the need for policy solutions aimed at improving living conditions for rural women and their families.

The FAO report could play a crucial role in understanding the link between gender equality and the efficiency of agri-food systems. Its findings and recommendations will be used to develop strategies to eliminate gender disparities and create conditions for the sustainable development of Uzbekistan’s rural areas.

The FAO working meeting reaffirmed that gender equality is not only a matter of fairness but also a prerequisite for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and building an inclusive future for all.