Wheat is Syria’s most vital crop, yet women—despite their central role in planting, harvesting, and post-harvest processing—remain excluded from decision-making, resources, and higher-value opportunities.
A gender-responsive wheat value chain analysis in Northeast Syria found that restrictive gender norms, lack of land ownership, limited access to finance, and discriminatory practices prevent women from benefiting equally. Women farmers face systemic barriers to markets, technologies, and cooperatives, while widowed, divorced, and illiterate women encounter compounded marginalization.
The study recommends gender-responsive interventions: ensuring women’s access to finance, land, and new technologies; integrating them into cooperatives; and addressing harmful norms through community dialogue. These steps will not only empower women but also strengthen Syria’s food security and resilience.
