In the rural areas where most of the world’s hungry people live, women produce most of the food consumed locally. Their contribution could be much greater if they had equal access to essential resources and services, such as land, credit and training. Eliminating the obstacles that hamper women could be the key to achieving the goals of the World Food Summit. But that can only be done if policies are shaped by better information about the difficulties experienced by women, and their aspirations, as well as by the participation of rural women themselves.

(From the article)