Women in Agriculture: Empowering Women Farmers Through Training and Opportunity
Today, Edilaine Alves is an award-winning coffee producer in Brazil. But her experience has not always been easy. Learn how Edilaine's journey as a woman in agriculture began.
According to the latest agricultural census in Brazil, women are responsible for more than a quarter of the country’s farms. Women lead 31% of farms and occupy 19% of management positions in Brazilian agribusinesses.
Despite these advances, women in agriculture still face significant barriers, including limited access to land, credit, agricultural inputs, and markets, as well as the persistence of gender stereotypes. Supporting and empowering women in rural areas has a multiplier effect on social and economic outcomes, encouraging generational succession in farming.
Today, Edilaine Alves, 35, is an award-winning coffee farmer in Gouveia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. But she did not start out with any experience in the industry. Her routine consisted of taking care of the house and her children and working as a shopkeeper. Occasionally, she helped her husband grow vegetables to sell at the local market. Edilaine’s journey into coffee farming didn’t start until 2024, when she joined the CRD Coffee Program, implemented by TechnoServe Brazil in partnership with Anglo American.
Edilaine Alves: From Beginner to Award-Winning Coffee Farmer
Today, Edilaine and her husband have a 1.5-hectare plot of coffee, with 1 hectare established with support from the CRD Coffee Program. Since establishing the plot, Edilaine has been dedicated and consistent in applying recommended practices, such as soil analysis and liming, contour line implementation, integrated pest and disease management, and integrated weed management.
Last year, Edilaine submitted her coffee for the prestigious 8th ATeG Café+Forte Cupping competition. Hers was among 2,153 samples judged for its physical and sensory characteristics according to the Specialty Coffee Association.
A score above 80 (on a scale of 100) indicates high-quality coffee, known as specialty coffee. Edilaine’s coffee scored 88.25, a result that earned her first place in the competition in the “natural” category, a “dry” processing method in which the coffee cherry is harvested and dried whole (with the skin and pulp) under the sun.
The results were announced during International Coffee Week, an event that brings together coffee industry professionals from across the country to connect and generate opportunities for the Brazilian coffee sector in terms of market access, knowledge, and business.
Edilaine was delighted to be awarded at this important showcase for coffee producers.
“I felt very confident and happy when I realized that the farm management was working […],” Edilaine said. “This award will add even more value to my coffee.”
Although she has achieved great results, Edilaine still faces challenges such as high irrigation costs and limited access to rural credit. Even so, her family has already invested in equipment with their own resources and plans to expand their plantation, focusing on specialty coffee.
Empowering Women Farmers with Resources and Hands-On Training
Before joining the program, Edilaine’s biggest challenge was a lack of planning. She couldn’t dedicate time to being on the farm and lacked the technical knowledge to care for the crop properly.
After joining, she immersed herself in learning from scratch, despite coming from a family of coffee producers. She says the most important aspect was the hands-on training:
“The courses and training were crucial because the practical parts helped me learn and absorb the knowledge.”
The first commercially profitable harvest in this value chain takes about two to three years, the time Edilaine and her family expect to begin receiving income from their coffee farm. However, her experience has demonstrated the importance of effective crop management for the growth of strong, healthy crops.
Her journey is especially symbolic because, in her community, it is common for women to be homemakers, care for children, and assist their husbands. Formerly a shopkeeper, she decided to dedicate herself to coffee after joining the CRD Coffee Program. Although the first phase of the program did not focus on commercialization, her participation has yielded remarkable results, reflecting her dedication and enthusiasm.
Supporting Women in Agriculture: CRD Coffee Program in Brazil
In its initial phase from 2023 to 2024, the CRD Coffee Program worked in nine municipalities surrounding Anglo American’s operations in Minas Gerais, Brazil’s largest coffee-producing state. TechnoServe staff acquired coffee seedlings, fertilizer, and limestone to donate to the farmers to support them in planting 1 hectare of coffee. To ensure proper soil preparation and effective planting management, TechnoServe contracted the Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Rural (Senar) as a subcontractor to provide technical and managerial assistance, as well as professional training courses.
TechnoServe closely supported producers to ensure proper crop management, also engaging city governments, rural unions, and local institutions.
The main achievements of this phase included:
- 60 producers attending trainings;
- 80 hectares of coffee plantations established;
- 301 jobs supported;
- 5 institutions or companies engaged in initiatives to strengthen the coffee value chain.
The program also encouraged the coffee producers to participate in events and competitions, opening doors to new markets and recognition.
Women in Agriculture: Scaling a Coffee Farm in Brazil
Edilaine is proud and excited about the possibility of turning her farm into a family business, and she hopes that her young children, now ages 9 and 5, will one day take over. Currently, she and her husband manage the farm together.
In addition to spending more time in the field, she has also enjoyed more time with her husband. Together, they purchased machinery to make their work easier, and she is thrilled with the progress so far.
“I want to equip my farm, make it grow, and consequently be more productive, and for the children to continue this work,” Edilaine said. “I want my daughter to do what she enjoys. She is still too young to [have this conversation], but whenever I can, I take her to the farm with me […] to encourage her along this path.”
Transforming Rural Economies Through Women in Agriculture
TechnoServe’s many coffee value chain initiatives show that targeted training and individualized technical assistance can overcome structural barriers to women’s participation in agriculture. Stories like Edilaine’s show that investing in women and expanding their access to opportunities can transform entire communities.
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This article was written by Isabella Cunha, program manager and gender champion at TechnoServe Brazil, based on interviews conducted by Juliana Martins and Luan Alves.
