Policies and programs can address discrimination against women and girls. For example, in the early 1990s India passed a law granting women equal rights with men, including the right to own and inherit land. Introduction of school gardens and supplemental feeding programs for children in day care centers and primary schools can encourage poor families to send their girl children to school so they can be fed. In some poor rural areas, where reproductive health services are not widely available, agricultural extension agents have been trained to provide contraceptive information and supplies, at least until health services could be introduced. For example, in the Philippines and Kenya women are being employed as agricultural extension workers in an effort to address the needs of women farmers.
Women play an important role in food production.
As cities expand, urban farmers, such as Mrs. Cao Renping in her greenhouse near Beijing, are producing increasing amounts of food.