Women : the key to food security

Eight such research findings, based on analysis of household surveys, are presented and briefly discussed in this report: (1) Agricultural productivity increases dramatically when women obtain the same amount of inputs as men do. (2) Gender differences in property rights hinder natural resource management. (3) Increasing women"s human capital is one of the most effective ways to reduce poverty. (4) Increasing women"s assets raises investments in education and girls" health. (5) Women"s education and status within the household contribute more than 50% to the reduction of child malnutrition. (6) Females in South Asia consistently fare worse than males on a number of health fronts, while girls in sub-Saharan Africa do better than boys. This difference is linked to the relative value placed on boys and girls in these two regions. (7) Good care practices can mitigate the effects of poverty and low maternal schooling on children"s nutrition. (8) Women are at a disadvantage when food and nutrients are distributed within a household. Includes recommendations.