See the Other Closing the Crop Gap Entries
While we could only select one winner, you can watch all of the inspiring stories from our talented filmmakers below.
Winner
Alia Adel
"Eman"
Asyut, Egypt
Eman’s community doesn’t understand why she is both a mother and a farmer. In her village in Asyut, Egypt, women traditionally don’t work outside of the home, but Eman needed to in order to support her family after her husband passed away.
Rather than ask for help, Eman rented land and began to farm, doing all of the work herself in hopes of affording her children an education and a better life.
See how Eman is trying to overcome the Crop Gap by pursuing farming despite the traditional gender roles in her community.
More About Filmmaker
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"Making Progress"
Carla Molina Soto
Chimaltenango, Guatemala
When Maria first started farming, her neighbors thought she was crazy because the work she was doing was commonly considered men’s work. Maria moved forward anyway and now grows vegetables, mushrooms and makes marmalade.
Despite all the progress she’s made, it’s still a challenge for her to get financing for her business and to find regular markets for her products.
See how Maria is working towards closing the Crop Gap while empowering women in her community of Chimaltenango, Guatemala
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"Building My Seat at the Table"
Meredith Meeks
Huntingburg, Indiana, USA
As a child on Sam’s family farm in the United States, it didn’t matter if you were a boy or girl; there was work to be done. As Sam got older and became a farmer herself she noticed a difference in what was considered acceptable women’s work versus men’s work.
Throughout her career, Sam has seen how women in leadership and decision-making roles truly enrich agriculture initiatives and impact. She has pushed hard to prove herself and continues to promote the need for more female leadership in agriculture.
See how Sam is using her voice to help close the Crop Gap and create opportunity for more women to have a seat at the table.
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"Daughter of the Soil"
Archana Borhade
Chhattisgarh, India
In Chhattisgarh, India, where Sunita lives, women are not allowed to own their own land. Sunita relies on her in-laws for access to land but has no guarantees that she will always be able to farm there.
Although she does not own the land, she is still intent on developing her skill set. Through a local self-help group Sunita was able to learn new farming techniques that helped to increase her yield and showed her village how all can benefit from empowering women.
See how Sunita is persisting in closing the Crop Gap to better herself and her village.
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"Your Role, My Role"
Gloria Kurnik
Grodzisk Mazowiecki, Poland
From a young age, Bozena didn’t see why farming tasks had to be different for boys and girls. Throughout her life working in agriculture, she has pushed to be included in important business decisions and has dedicated countless hours to her work at home and on the field. Now, she shares all responsibility equally with her husband on their potato farm in Grodzisk Mazowiecki, Poland.
See how Bozena is closing the Crop Gap by challenging gender stereotypes in agriculture.
