Raja Rajeswari Meka, center, with Bangladeshi entrepreneurs involved in Women-led Nursery Enterprise Model.
When women farmers gain access to essential technology, the impact extends beyond fields and families—it has the potential to transform entire economies.
Yet, for millions of women in agriculture, basic tools and innovations remain out of reach, limiting their potential and stalling progress in food security. This was the driving theme at the recent World Food Prize side event, “Ensuring Access to Technology for Women in Agriculture”, where a distinguished panel of experts convened Oct. 30 to explore how to break down barriers to technology and open new pathways for women in farming.
The event, organized by the U.S. Department of State Office of Agricultural Policy, featured a panel moderated by Dina Esposito, assistant to the administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Bureau for Resilience, Environment, and Food Security and Feed the Future deputy coordinator for development. Panelists included Raja Rajeswari Meka, women and youth enterprise development specialist from the Feed the Future Insect-Resistant Eggplant Partnership led by Cornell University; Stella Thomas, CEO of Techniseeds and member of the Global Farmer Network; and Alexis Taylor, under secretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs at U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The session was introduced by Amy Holman, acting assistant secretary of state for economic and business affairs, and included remarks from Gerardine Mukeshimana, vice president of IFAD.
In Bangladesh, women are driving significant progress in the agricultural sector, overcoming challenges posed by barriers to biotechnology that restrict productivity and economic opportunities.
“Limited access to biotechnology in Bangladesh stifles prosperity and hinders food security by restricting farmers’ ability to adopt high-yield, pest-resistant crops,” Meka said. She emphasized that providing women with technology—such as pest-resistant Bt eggplant—could empower them to increase yields, reduce costs, and improve their quality of life.
“Access to opportunity empowers women to redefine their roles and direct their futures.”
Rajeswari Meka
The Women-led Nursery Enterprise Model, which is part of the Feed the Future Insect-Resistant Eggplant Partnership, provides women with access to technology, Meka said. In her presentation, Meka outlined how the initiative trains women to produce and sell Bt eggplant seedlings, a variety genetically engineered to resist the devastating eggplant fruit and shoot borer insects. Bt eggplant provides farmers with a valuable resource that minimizes pesticide use. By establishing women as entrepreneurial leaders in seedling production, this model creates a new role for them in the agricultural value chain, enabling financial independence and contributing to household stability.
Bt eggplant has proven to be an important opportunity crop in Bangladesh, as Meka explained. Farmers adopting this crop have seen increased yields, reduced pesticide costs, and improved health due to lower exposure to harmful chemicals. These economic and health benefits ripple outwards, affecting not only the women selling the seedlings from their nurseries, but also the farms and environments where Bt eggplant is grown. “This technology has the potential to lift entire communities,” Meka said, underscoring the model’s transformative power.
The nursery enterprise model is designed to be both sustainable and scalable, allowing women to manage their nurseries from home. This setup is especially beneficial in Bangladesh, where cultural norms and domestic responsibilities often limit women’s participation in the workforce.
“This home-based enterprise model enables women to balance both their home and business responsibilities effectively,” Meka said. By diversifying income sources, the model grants women greater financial stability and control over resources, empowering them to make decisions that benefit themselves and their families.
Meka also discussed the importance of building market linkages to sustain these nursery enterprises. Connecting women-led nurseries with local markets is crucial for integrating them into the broader agricultural economy. Meka highlighted the initiative’s role in building networks that empower women economically and socially.
Panelists throughout the session echoed the need for inclusive agricultural innovation. Alexis Taylor of USDA emphasized the role of policy in expanding access to technology, while Stella Thomas from Techniseeds shared insights into how private sector partnerships can further women’s involvement in high-value crop production in Nigeria. Together, the panel painted a picture of a future where women farmers lead, innovate, and contribute to food security on equal footing with men.
The discussion underscored that initiatives like the Women-led Nursery Enterprise Model offer more than just economic opportunity—they foster a sense of agency and empowerment among women farmers. Meka’s closing words captured the event’s core message: “Access to opportunity empowers women to redefine their roles and direct their futures.”
For those who attended the session or tuned in online, the message was clear: to truly address food security and rural poverty, we must ensure that technology and resources are accessible to all, especially those who have been historically marginalized. Through initiatives like the Feed the Future Insect-Resistant Eggplant Partnership, the seeds of change are already being sown.
