FAO envoy urges innovators to design farm tools that suit women, youth

DAR ES SALAAM: A representative of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) at the African Sustainable Agricultural Tools Conference, Gloriana Ndibalema, has called on innovators to design farm tools that address the specific needs of women and youth to increase their participation in agriculture.

Speaking at the conference in Dar es Salaam, Ndibalema said that many existing agricultural tools fail to consider women’s requirements, despite women being among the continent’s major food producers.

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Elaborating, she said that heavy, labor-intensive tools often prevent women from using them effectively, stressing the need for user-friendly designs that empower women and enhance farm productivity.

For youth, she stressed the importance of modern, multi-functional tools that save time and improve efficiency, aligning with young farmers’ expectations for speed, innovation, and technology-driven solutions.

She added that designing tools tailored to women and youth will significantly boost their engagement in African agriculture, driving higher production, job creation, and sustainable development across the sector.