Women form an integral part of the agricultural sector, and in much of South Asia women make up a majority of the agricultural workforce and are often compelled to work to meet their families’ basic needs. While their contributions are recognized as central to the food and nutrition security of households and communities, their work is not recognized or supported adequately by public policy and social institutions. Women continue to face inequality across key development indicators including health, education and nutrition; discriminatory laws; and high levels of precarity in terms of income, employment conditions, safety and well-being. Social structures that promote gender inequality and inhibit the agency of women contribute to the South Asian enigma — the persistence of undernutrition despite economic growth — and must be addressed to achieve food and nutrition security.

妇女是农业部门不可或缺的一部分，在南亚大部分地区，妇女占农业劳动力的大多数，通常被迫从事工作以满足其家庭的基本需求。尽管他们的贡献被认为是家庭和社区粮食和营养安全的核心，但他们的工作并未得到公共政策和社会机构的充分承认或支持。妇女在健康，教育和营养等主要发展指标上继续面临不平等；歧视性法律；以及在收入，就业条件，安全和福祉方面的高风险。