Rural women of Peru: economic and social engine that sustains the countryside

Each October 15th marks the International Day of Rural Women, a date to recognize the strength of millions of women who sustain agriculture, food security, and community life in the country. Their economic contribution is indisputable, but their social role is equally vital: they maintain traditions, lead families, and face adverse conditions to get ahead. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI), over 3.46 million women reside in rural areas in Peru, which is equivalent to 47.8% of the rural population. Despite their importance, they still face serious gaps: the female economic activity rate in the rural sector is 77.4%, compared to 88.5% for men, which reflects the need to continue closing gender inequalities in the countryside. In the productive sector, the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (Midagri) reported that 938,089 women are registered in the Agrarian Producers Registry, which is equivalent to 45.5% of the total producers ...