Our work
From the coffee you drink to the rice you eat, female farmers are at the heart of our food system. They invest hours of hard work, yet face limited access to land, knowledge, finance and markets.
In countries such as Guatemala, Malawi and Nepal, Heifer works alongside ambitious women to build resilient livelihoods and strengthen local food systems. Together, we invest in fair food and a sustainable future. When women have the opportunity to reach their full potential, entire communities prosper. Female farmers feed the world!
Why female farmers?
Women are the backbone of small-scale agriculture, yet their voices are often unheard. Structural barriers limit their access to resources such as land and finance, while social norms restrict their freedom to make decisions. As climate pressures increase, these inequalities become even more pronounced.
Strengthening the position of female farmers is therefore essential for resilient food systems and thriving communities.
our approach
Around the world, Heifer works alongside women farmers, supporting them as they strengthen their position, improve their harvests, adapt to a changing climate and build stable incomes. We do this through long-term investments in:
- Women & equality
- Food security
- Work & Income
- Climate & environment
- People, livestock & nature
Impact
The Heifer method has been proven successful. Since 1999, Heifer Netherlands has been able to directly impact the lives of more than 129,104 farming families. If you add the impact of the network of Heifer International, we supported almost 60 million families on their way to living income.
Living income
Our projects work towards living income. We define living income as the amount of money each person in a household needs per day to live a dignified life. A living income means thriving, not just surviving. Read more.