As the sun rose over the lush cornfields of the Philippines, 65-year-old Francisca Somejo Rimalos tended to her crops with the wisdom of five decades of farming experience.

Even after all these years, Rimalos’ eyes sparkled with the excitement of new knowledge from a training program she recently completed. 

Rimalos is one of 32 women corn farmers who completed an innovative training, a component of a larger effort to drive transformative change in agriculture by empowering women farmers across Southeast Asia.

Supported by Canada’s International Development Research Center and led by Grow Asia and its country partnerships, the research addresses critical challenges facing the region’s agricultural sector, from deforestation to greenhouse gas emissions.

With roughly 70 million smallholder farms, Southeast Asia’s agriculture holds immense potential to combat poverty and transition to a low-carbon economy.

“Agriculture contributes more than 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in Southeast Asia, yet these sectors also hold potential as significant carbon sinks,” said Chrissa Borja, head of programs for Grow Asia.

“Our work supports climate-smart practices that amplify this potential, specifically through empowering women farmers.”

Agriculture is also key to promoting sustainable livelihoods for women, who make up 32 percent of the agricultural labor force in key exporting member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. 

Grow Asia’s approach is multifaceted, focusing on introducing climate-smart technologies, reducing gender disparities and fostering collaboration with the private sector. 

The reach extends beyond individual farmers by creating systemic change.

In Cambodia, the research team introduced drip irrigation systems that benefit entire communities of vegetable farmers.

In the Philippines, the team used a train-the-trainers model to deliver specialized knowledge on pest management and sustainable farming to women leaders in corn production.

Women like Rimalos become ambassadors of change, sharing their knowledge with others in their communities.

Lacina Diarra, program officer at IDRC, emphasizes the importance of affordable climate-smart tools: “The project has demonstrated that when women farmers have access to these technologies, they can increase yields and reduce emissions, contributing to food security.”

The success of these innovations paves the way for their extended use within Asean countries and beyond.

The research results will also inform future initiatives for farmers who grow other crops, such as coffee and beans, aligning with Asean’s broader goal to foster a low-carbon economy led by empowered women farmers.

As part of Canada’s foreign affairs and development efforts, the International Development Research Center champions and funds research and innovation within and alongside developing regions to drive global change.

We invest in high-quality research in developing countries, share knowledge with researchers and policymakers for greater uptake and use, and mobilize our global alliances to build a more sustainable and inclusive world.