In Uganda, more women are primarily engaged in agriculture than men, yet female farmers face more challenges in starting successful agribusinesses than their male counterparts.

This is partly determined by discriminatory gender norms that limit their access to productive resources (such as land, labour, equipment and economic resources). Together with responsibilities in unpaid care and domestic work, along with their exclusion from leadership and decision-making positions, social dynamics negatively shape the trajectories of women's participation in agriculture.

This report explores the experiences of young women in Uganda, finding that a diverse set of harmful social and cultural attitudes around gender play a key role in limiting farming opportunities for women in rural communities. Taking a youth and gender perspective, with analysis of government policy and interviews with a range of youth participants and regional agricultural stakeholders, this research provides lessons for future programmes that seek to support young people to build sustainable livelihoods in farming.

Report by the Overseas Development Institute