Dimitra’s Commitment to Advancing SDGs: Reduce Inequality

One of the most definitive issues of human history is inequality. Although several forms of inequality have declined, income inequality is perhaps the most common and concerning form today.

According to the 2022 World Inequality Report, 10% of the world’s population earns more than 52% of global income, while the poorest 50% of the population receives only 8%.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, global income inequality increased for the first time in decades. Insufficient recovery in today’s market continues to widen the disparity, and income inequality continues to rise significantly between countries.

One of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to reduce inequality significantly by 2030.

At Dimitra, we’re working within and between nations to mitigate income inequality, especially among the world’s most important laborers: farmers.

Reduce Inequality SDG 10

“Reduce inequalities within and among countries.”

While income inequality is stabilizing between countries, it’s growing worse within countries. SDG #10 calls for nations to “reduce inequalities in income as well as those based on age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other statuses within a country.”

How Does Inequality Affect Agriculture?

Inequalities in agriculture still exist today, some of which date back thousands of years. Among smallholder farms that support their immediate families and communities, wealth inequality remains a top concern. Land ownership has also been a constant struggle in the fight for farmers’ rights to a livable income.

Despite historically groundbreaking equal rights movements around the world, gender inequalities still exist in professional fields today — and the farming industry is no exception. Women in agriculture still face serious barriers to land ownership. In fact, less than 20% of landholders are women. Of that amount, even fewer have land ownership — or the ability to control, utilize, and manage owned land freely without oppression.

Solutions to Farming Inequality

What are agricultural innovators and national governments to do in the face of farming inequality? As a leading agricultural technology company focused on farmer success, we at Dimitra know there’s no single solution.

Section 10.b in SDG #10 to Reduce Inequality lists a target: “Encourage official development assistance and financial flows, including foreign direct investment, to States where the need is greatest, in particular, least developed countries, African countries, small island developing States and landlocked developing countries, in accordance with their national plans and programmes.”

This effort is one Dimitra strongly aligns with. Direct investment is one thing. Working in accordance with national plans is another, and it’s vital if farmers are to be equipped with the resources, support, and knowledge they need to achieve equal access to opportunities within their country.

To enable farmers to operate sustainably and earn a steady income, countries can work to ensure equal opportunities that reduce inequalities. Agricultural companies and cooperatives can advocate to override discriminatory laws and policies in the industry. Furthermore, agricultural companies can prioritize equal opportunity employment, fair wages, and ethical working conditions in every aspect of the operation.

Empowering Farmers With Accessible AgTech: Dimitra’s Mission

Whether it be gaining access to basic farm goods and services, learning to implement more sustainable farming practices, or diversifying the opportunities of crop trade, farmers benefit from technology. And it’s possible to make this reality more accessible for all.

At Dimitra, we work with smallholder farms around the world to ensure fair, advanced availability of supportive AgTech platforms. Our Connected Farmer App allows farmers to track finances, manage crops, access weather predictions, and stay in compliance with local government regulations. Although this type of technology was only available to large-scale farmers in the past, we place it in farmers’ hands — even those in the most rural locations.

Dimitra’s CEO, Jon Trask, proclaims: “Every smallholder farmer, regardless of economic status, should be able to benefit from simple, beautiful, and useful technology… because when farmers thrive, economies thrive.”

With Dimitra, farms can effectively increase yield, reduce costs, and mitigate risks throughout every season. It’s our mission to make the equality gap smaller, one farmer at a time.

Visit www.dimitra.io to learn more about accessible farming technologies and to join the movement toward agricultural equality.