Empowering Rural Women for Food Security: Evidence from Pig Production in Post-Conflict Colombia

Female empowerment in post-conflict rural contexts is strategic for food security and socioeconomic resilience. This study analyzed the relationship between women’s productive empowerment and food security in 40 rural women involved in pig production in Santa Rosa del Sur, Bolívar, Colombia. A mixed approach with a descriptive–exploratory design and longitudinal scope was used. Data collection employed adapted versions of the Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (A-WEAgI) and the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), alongside participant observation and reflective thematic analysis. Quantitative data were analyzed via descriptive statistics and Spearman correlation. The baseline revealed low empowerment regarding income, resources, technical capacities, and time. The global A-WEAgI reached 21%, while HFIAS showed moderate food insecurity in 52% of households. Spearman analysis (CS) indicated moderate negative correlations between food insecurity and income (CS = −0.56), access to resources (CS = −0.51), and technical capacities (CS = −0.49), suggesting that greater women´s empowerment was associates with lower food insecurity. Post-intervention, improvements occurred in technical skills, leadership, and organizational participation. Qualitative findings showed increased confidence in Agroindustry activities, though limitations in economic autonomy, commercialization, and domestic workloads persisted. Gender-focused rural strategies enhance productive capacities and food resilience; however, structural barriers related to economic autonomy and gender inequality persist.