Column

Is the International Year of the Woman Farmer really necessary?

A column by Judith De Vor The year 2026 has been declared International Year of the Woman Farmer by the United Nations. A remarkable initiative. Is it really necessary? I was reminded of a morning in rural northern India. It was still cool, the sun just above the horizon. A woman bent over the […]

Post-harvest loss: where Africa’s food disappears before it reaches the plate

By our columnist Yemisi Yamah Harvest season is often imagined as a moment of pride. It is the time when farmers finally see the reward for months of early mornings, careful tending, and relentless hope. But across many parts of Africa, that celebration is painfully short. Long before food reaches the market and long before […]

Mental health – Before the Crisis: How Communities Can Proactively Support Mental Health

By The Do More Agriculture Foundation Most rural communities understand that emergencies happen—and they plan for them. Those who understand a community’s assets, strengths, resources, and people come together before a crisis to develop a strategy. Here’s what we do when the air ambulance is coming to pick up someone who has had a heart […]

Column – Why Women Must Lead Nigeria’s Agricultural Future

A column by Yamah Yemisi Dorcas In the early hours of rural Nigeria, while much of the world still sleeps, thousands of women are already on the move. They trek long distances along muddy paths, carrying sprayers, hoes and sometimes children. Some head to farmlands they do not own. Others serve as extension workers, […]

Column – Who run the world?

Girls! You probably know this song by Beyoncé. While it is not about women in agriculture, I was reminded of it. A few months ago, I read the news that the United Nations has declared 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer. The fact that the UN would devote an entire year to […]

Best wishes!

By our columnist Judith De Vor As the holidays are upon us again and we head toward the end of the year, this is a great time to look back on the year. What happened, what was special? First, of course, the fact that I got to start a column for women in agriculture […]

For the love of the land – and food

By Judith De Vor As a farmer, like so many of us, I juggle a lot of things every day. Taking care of my animals, milking the cows and working the land. Of course I do many other things; I have work on the computer and receive many visitors on the farm. But every day […]

Finding connection and combating loneliness on the farm

According to the 2021 Canadian Social Survey on Loneliness in Canada, of the one in 10 Canadians who reported frequent loneliness, 49% also reported poorer mental health and lower levels of overall life satisfaction. This survey highlights the widespread issue of loneliness among the general Canadian population. Meanwhile, farming is often seen as a solitary […]

COLUMN: Politics, agriculture and the women of it all

by Judith De Vor A column about politics, isn’t that boring? Well, maybe… but it is also important. This year is particularly significant because it’s an election year: elections are happening in India, Europe, and the United States. Recently, the elections for a new European Parliament took place, where voters can choose political parties in […]

Grief is a wave and a freight train

Erica Leniczek on how to deal with grief “It doesn’t matter what you do, eventually you lose everyone in your life or they lose you.” The reality of that quote is that it’s true. Either everyone loses us or we lose everyone. We are set up with neurological processes to handle loss and grief […]