Rural women have developed practices for the efficient and sustainable use of the resources available to them. Rural women make a tremendous contribution to food and agricultural production. They also play a crucial role in determining and guaranteeing food security and well-being for the entire household. Equitable, effective and sustainable agriculture and rural development cannot be pursued without an explicit recognition of these realities. In a global atmosphere of increasing poverty, food insecurity, rural out-migration and environmental degradation, all potential actors in development must be given the support and access to resources they need to pursue sustainable livelihoods and strategies for a better life. Within this context, women's empowerment will be central to raising levels of nutrition, improving production and distribution of food and agricultural products, and enhancing the living conditions of rural populations.