Women farmers across Sub-Saharan Africa could help generate billions of dollars in additional agricultural output if longstanding inequalities limiting their productivity are addressed, according to a new World Bank report.

The study, conducted by the World Bank’s Africa Gender Innovation Lab and Development Research Group, examined data from 23 nationally representative surveys across 12 African countries. It found that women consistently produce lower agricultural yields than men, not because of differences in ability, but due to unequal access to land, finance, labour, technology and profitable farming opportunities.

Researchers found that the agricultural productivity gap varies significantly across the region, ranging from 7% in Guinea to as much as 77% in Chad. Other countries recorded substantial disparities, including Burkina Faso at 61%, Ethiopia at 36%, Nigeria at 30% and Malawi at 25%. Even after accounting for factors such as education, farm size and access to agricultural inputs, productivity differences remained, highlighting the impact of persistent structural barriers.

One of the biggest contributors to the gap is women’s limited participation in high-value commercial farming. While many women cultivate subsistence crops, men continue to dominate lucrative export commodities such as cocoa, coffee, cotton, tobacco, rubber and cashew. The report notes that improving women’s access to these cash crops could significantly increase agricultural production while boosting export earnings and rural incomes.

Labour shortages and unequal access to modern farming inputs continue to limit productivity. Women generally have fewer opportunities to hire workers or access family labour during critical farming periods. At the same time, they often use less fertiliser, machinery, pesticides and improved seed varieties than their male counterparts. In some countries, narrowing these input gaps alone could substantially reduce differences in harvest values.

The report also highlights the growing role of digital technology in agriculture and warns that women risk being left behind. Across Sub-Saharan Africa, women are considerably less likely to use mobile internet services or participate in digital agriculture platforms, reducing access to information, extension services and precision farming technologies that are becoming increasingly important.

According to the World Bank, closing these productivity gaps would have far-reaching economic benefits. Previous estimates cited in the report suggest that eliminating gender disparities in agriculture could lift hundreds of thousands of people out of poverty while adding an estimated US$100 million annually to Malawi’s economy, US$105 million in Tanzania, US$67 million in Uganda, US$1.1 billion in Ethiopia and approximately US$9.3 billion in Nigeria.

The report argues that governments should move beyond short-term agricultural subsidies and focus on long-term reforms that improve women’s access to land ownership, agricultural credit, extension services, digital technology and commercial farming opportunities. It also recommends expanding childcare support in rural communities and promoting policies that encourage more equal sharing of unpaid household responsibilities.

Development agencies are encouraged to adopt integrated programmes that combine financial inclusion, land governance reforms and women’s economic empowerment, rather than relying on isolated interventions. The study found that such approaches have produced stronger gains in productivity, household incomes and women’s participation in commercial agriculture.

Private sector investment is also identified as a key opportunity. Agribusinesses, financial institutions, insurers and agricultural technology companies could expand services tailored to women farmers, helping unlock a largely underserved market while supporting broader economic growth.

The report concludes that reducing gender inequality in agriculture represents one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways for African countries to strengthen food security, increase agricultural productivity, attract investment and support more inclusive economic development as the region continues its agricultural transformation.