Rural women comprise more than one quarter of the total world
population. 500 million women live below the poverty line in rural
areas. Women produce 60-80 per cent of basic foodstuffs in sub-Sahara
Africa and the Caribbean. Women perform over 50 per cent of the labour
involved in intensive rice cultivation in Asia. Women perform 30 per
cent of the agricultural work in industrialised countries. Women head
60 per cent of households in some regions of Africa. Women meet 90 per
cent of household water and fuel needs in Africa. Women process 100%
of basic household food stuffs in Africa.

"Rural women the world over are an integral and vital force in the
development processes that are the key to socio-economic progress.
Rural women from the backbone of the agricultural labour force across
much of the developing world and produce 35-45% of Gross Domestic
Product and well over 50% of the developing world's food. Yet, half a
billion rural women are poor and lack access to resources and
markets." (Geneva Declaration for rural women 1992).

For more info, see
http://womensection.woman.ch/index.php/en/prize-for-women-s-creativity-in-rural-life