Food-Crop Production and the Fight Against Women's Poverty in the Sub-Prefecture of Buyo

In many rural areas, including Buyo in Côte d’Ivoire, women occupy a central role in food-crop activities and family food production. Analyzing their participation in agricultural production provides a comprehensive understanding of their economic and social contributions and the challenges they face in food-crop production. This study seeks to clarify the socioeconomic impacts of food-crop production in mitigating women’s poverty in the sub-prefecture of Buyo. These dynamics foster the development of food-crop activities and strengthen women’s autonomy. Using a hypothetico-deductive approach that combines documentary research with fieldwork, a survey was administered to 180 women engaged in food-crop activities in Buyo. The results indicate that, despite limited access to land, basic agricultural tools, and marketing opportunities, women in this locality achieve 70% autonomy in food-crop production. Fifty-six percent of women finance their activities independently, 34% rely on loans, and 11% receive external aid (NGOs, donors). The study further identifies significant barriers, including inadequate equipment for production and processing, poor road infrastructure, and the absence of nearby markets. Additionally, women’s economic roles remain insufficiently recognized, a situation intensified by social norms that restrict their decision-making power within households and the broader community.