News » 28.10.2026 - How Colombia's flower industry is working to close gender gaps
International Rural Women's Day, celebrated on October 15, offered Colombia's flower industry an opportunity to look beyond recognition and reflect on a fundamental question: How can the sector continue helping rural women overcome barriers and build better opportunities for themselves and their families?
With women representing approximately 60% of its workforce, Colombian floriculture has long recognized their essential contribution to one of the country's leading agricultural export industries. This year, in the context of the United Nations' International Year of the Woman Farmer, Asocolflores, the Association of Colombian Flower Exporters, took a closer look at the challenges facing rural women and the programs developed alongside its member companies to help address them.
The exercise highlighted five interconnected priorities: economic independence, access to preventive healthcare, leadership development, gender equality, and peaceful family and workplace relationships.
Turning challenges into opportunities
Economic independence and financial well-being. Access to formal employment is an important foundation for women's economic autonomy. Beyond employment, financial education can help workers make informed decisions, manage debt and plan for the future. Through a partnership with Banco Agrario de Colombia, Asocolflores offers employees of its member companies financial education sessions covering savings, responsible borrowing, financial stress and personal money management.
Health and prevention. Access to preventive healthcare remains a challenge for many women in rural communities. Since 2023, Asocolflores' Breast Cancer Prevention and Awareness Program has reached 2,303 women in Colombia's Cundinamarca region, encouraging early detection awareness and a culture of preventive care.
Leadership and professional growth. Expanding women's opportunities to develop professionally and assume leadership positions is another priority. Through its School of Supervisors, Asocolflores trained 262 women in 2024 and 2025, strengthening skills in communication, team management, leadership and productivity. Women account for more than half of the program's participants.
Gender equality and safer workplaces. Through Floreciendo Juntos (Blooming Together), its gender equality strategy launched in 2022, Asocolflores works with member companies to promote women's access, retention and development in the industry. The initiative has reached more than 5,000 beneficiaries. Among participating companies, 100% have adopted a gender equality policy, while 55% have implemented procedures to address sexual harassment. The strategy also promotes leadership training and work-life balance measures.
Peaceful relationships and family well-being. Recognizing that well-being extends beyond the workplace, Asocolflores' Cultivemos la Paz en Familia (Let's Cultivate Peace in the Family) program promotes dialogue, conflict resolution and peaceful relationships in workplaces, families and communities. Since its creation in 1999, the initiative has reached more than 54,000 beneficiaries.
A commitment that goes beyond one day
Together, these initiatives reflect a broader understanding of women's empowerment: one that goes beyond access to employment to include health, knowledge, confidence, leadership and the ability to make decisions about their own lives.
Through Floreciendo Juntos and its complementary social programs, Asocolflores continues to support member companies with practical tools to strengthen gender equality and employee well-being, recognizing that progress requires sustained efforts and collaboration.
The International Year of the Woman Farmer is an opportunity to recognize women's contributions to agriculture worldwide, but also to acknowledge the challenges that remain.
For Colombia's flower industry, the message extends well beyond October 15: supporting rural women is not only about celebrating their contributions, but about continuing to create opportunities for them to grow, lead and thrive.
Source: www.floraldaily.com
« Back