Women Lead in Nearly One-Fifth of Brazil's Rural Properties, Driving Innovation and Growth
Women manage 19% of Brazil’s rural properties across major agribusiness sectors, but face pay gaps and leadership challenges.
- • Women lead 19% of Brazil's rural properties, covering 30 million hectares.
- • Women dominate 33% of cattle properties and 22% of cocoa farms in Bahia and Pará.
- • Female workforce participation varies: 17% in soy, 13.2% of coffee farms led by women, and minimal presence in sugarcane.
- • Women earn less than men in agriculture despite their significant roles, with only 17.4% earning above three minimum wages.
Key details
In Brazil, women are leading production in 19% of rural properties, managing approximately 30 million hectares—or 8.5% of the country’s rural area—according to the 2026 study "Women in the Value Chains of Brazilian Agribusiness" by the IDH Foundation. This marks a significant presence of female leadership in an industry historically dominated by men.
The study highlights women's involvement across six key agribusiness sectors: cattle, cocoa, citrus, soybean, coffee, and sugarcane. Women lead 33% of cattle production properties, the highest among the sectors, and manage 22% of cocoa farms, particularly concentrated in Bahia and Pará. In citrus production, women control 18% of farms, while in soy, they represent 17% of the workforce, though cultural barriers remain a challenge for their advancement.
Coffee farms led by women are fewer, at 13.2%, but these enterprises employ a notably higher proportion of female labor—43% compared to 24% on male-managed farms. Female participation is lowest in sugarcane, where just 8.8% of the workforce is female and only 5.4% hold leadership roles.
Despite their critical role, women often receive less recognition and lower pay than men. Only 17.4% of women in agriculture earn more than three minimum wages, compared to 29.8% of their male counterparts. Nevertheless, the IDH Foundation identifies women in rural activities as champions of innovation, emphasizing social responsibility and advanced soil conservation practices.
This gendered landscape in Brazilian rural sectors underscores both progress and ongoing disparities, reflecting women's increasing influence and the need to overcome cultural and economic barriers to equity in agribusiness leadership.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
