The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, recognizing the pivotal role women in agriculture globally. In India, the phenomenon of “feminization of agriculture”—driven by male migration, poverty, and entrenched gender roles has made women the backbone of rural agricultural economies, while they remain marginal in policy frameworks.
Role and Significance of Women in Agriculture:
- Global Contribution: Women contribute 60–80% of food production in developing countries (FAO).
- South Asia: Women constitute 39% of agricultural labor.
- India:
- 13% of landholders are women.
- Only 8.3% own land, limiting access to credit and state benefits.
- Women are involved in sowing, transplanting, weeding, harvesting, seed preservation, and livestock care.
Implications of Feminization for Food Security and Gender Equality:
1. Positive Impacts:
- Food Security: Women contribute to diversified cropping, seed preservation, and nutrition-sensitive farming, enhancing food security at the household and national levels.
- Economic Empowerment: Greater participation of women in agriculture can be an avenue for women’s empowerment and improved household incomes.
2. Negative Impacts:
- Work Overload: Women in Agriculture juggle duties, household chores, and child-rearing, leading to physical and emotional burnout.
- Lack of Ownership and Recognition: Limited land ownership and exclusion from decision-making weaken their bargaining power and access to institutional support.
- Limited Access to Credit and Technology: Inadequate access to extension services, mobile technologies, and markets restricts productivity.
Key Challenges Faced by Women Farmers:
| Challenge | Impact |
| Land Ownership | Only 8.3% own land, limiting credit, subsidies, and legal recognition as farmers. |
| Access to Finance | Inadequate loan size and procedural hurdles prevent financial inclusion. |
| Technology Gap | Limited digital literacy and access to agri-tech reduce productivity and market reach. |
| Policy Neglect | Gender-blind policies fail to address women’s unique constraints and needs. |
Government Schemes to empower women:
- Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP): Empowers women farmers through skill-building and sustainable practices.
- National Food Security Mission: 30% budget allocation for women farmers.
- Subsidies for Farm Mechanisation: 50–80% subsidy for women.
- NRLM SHG Network: Financial inclusion through Self-Help Groups.
- STEP, Mahila E-Haat, and Mahila Coir Yojana: Promote entrepreneurship and market access.
Measures needed:
1. Gender-Sensitive Policy Framework:
- Integrate a gender lens in all agriculture policies using gender-disaggregated data.
- Institutional recognition of women as “farmers”, not just as laborers.
2. Land and Legal Rights:
- Promote joint land titles and incentivize women’s land ownership through legal reforms and awareness drives.
3. Access to Finance and Technology:
- Develop women-centric agri-value chains and simplify credit access through SHGs and cooperative models.
- Train women in digital agri-tech platforms, such as eNAM and agri-extension services.
4. Strengthen SHGs and FPOs:
- Support women-led FPOs with capacity building, warehousing, and collective marketing infrastructure.
5. Climate-Resilient Agriculture:
- Train women in climate-smart agriculture, recognizing their role in managing biodiversity and coping with climate shocks.
6. Social Security and Well-being:
- Provide maternity benefits, healthcare, and crèche facilities for rural women to reduce caregiving burden.
7. Gender Budgeting and Inclusion:
- Implement gender budgeting in all agriculture schemes and ensure representation in planning bodies like Krishi Vigyan Kendras and Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Conclusion:
As India approaches 2026 – the International Year of the Woman Farmer, there is a unique opportunity to institutionalize women’s contributions and align agricultural reforms with the goals of gender equality, climate resilience, and food security. Empowering Women in Agriculture is not just a matter of justice—it is a strategic imperative for sustainable development.
‘+1’ Value addition:
Best Practices:
- Deccan Development Society (Andhra Pradesh): Women-led cooperatives managing community seed banks. It focuses on millet cultivation for nutrition and resilience.
- Swayam Shikshan Prayog (Maharashtra): Trained over 80,000 women in climate-resilient farming and supported formation of Women’s Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs).
- Women-Led FPOs in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh: SHG-based FPOs improving market linkage, training, and collective bargaining.
- As per the 10th Agriculture Census (2015-16), the percentage of female operational holdings in the country have increased from about 13% percent during 2010-11 to around 14% during 2015-16
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