Women Farmers in Agriculture

Context

The United Nations has designated 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF 2026) to recognize their indispensable role in global food security. In alignment with this global vision, India recently hosted the Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems (GCWAS–2026) in New Delhi to drive policy reforms and celebrate the contributions of women to the primary sector.

Profile of Women Farmers in India

What it is? Women farmers are the backbone of the rural economy, engaging in the entire agricultural value chain from land preparation and seed sowing to processing and marketing. Long categorized as "invisible laborers," they are now being recognized as independent entrepreneurs and pivotal decision-makers who ensure household nutrition and rural resilience.

Key Data & Statistics:

Primary Livelihood: 80% of all economically active women in rural India are employed in agriculture.
Workforce Composition: Among the rural female workforce, 33% are agricultural laborers and 48% are self-employed farmers.
Financial Inclusion: Under PM-KISAN, approximately 25% of total benefits (over ₹1.01 lakh crore) have been directed to women beneficiaries.
Collectivization: India currently hosts 1,175 FPOs (Farmer Producer Organizations) with 100% women shareholders, signaling a shift toward formal women-led business structures.

Multidimensional Roles in Agriculture

Crop Production: Handling labor-intensive tasks such as sowing, weeding, and meticulous paddy transplantation.
Livestock Management: Acting as primary managers for dairy, poultry, and small ruminants. The Pashu Sakhi model has successfully provided doorstep veterinary services.
Post-Harvest & Value Addition: Transforming raw produce into marketable goods, such as spices and mushrooms, through Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
Natural Resource Management: Over 70,000 SHG women have been trained in Natural Farming to promote chemical-free, sustainable agriculture.
Technology Adoption: Transitioning to high-tech solutions, most notably through the Namo Drone Didi program for precision farming.

Major Government Initiatives

Namo Drone Didi Scheme: Provides 15,000 drones to women SHGs with 80% central assistance to modernize farming and create service-based livelihoods.
Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP): A sub-component of DAY-NRLM specifically designed to empower women through skill development and ecological farming.
Krishi Sakhi Programme: Training 70,000 women as para-extension workers to bridge the gap between scientific research and field application.
ICAR-CIWA: The Central Institute for Women in Agriculture in Bhubaneswar develops women-friendly, drudgery-reducing tools and conducts gender-specific research.

Challenges Faced by Women Farmers

Lack of Land Ownership: Without land titles, women remain "invisible" in official records, making it difficult to access PM-KISAN or institutional credit.
Physical Drudgery: Traditional tools are often designed for men, causing significant musculoskeletal strain for women laborers.
Credit Gap: A lack of collateral (land) often prevents women from securing bank loans, forcing them to rely on SHGs or informal lenders.
Extension Services Gap: Technical training for High-Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds or pesticides has traditionally targeted male farmers, missing the actual implementers in the field.
Climate Vulnerability: During droughts or floods, women face increased burdens in fetching water and fodder, leaving less time for farm management.

Way Ahead

Digital Land Verification: Speeding up the digitization of land records to enable more women to self-register for DBT schemes.
Gender-Sensitive Mechanization: Expanding training centers to teach women how to operate and repair small-scale machinery.
Scaling Women-led FPOs: Reaching a target of 10,000 FPOs with a focus on states like Odisha and Bihar.
Market Linkages: Utilizing the AMI/ISAM schemes to provide 33.33% subsidies for women to build village-level markets.
Mainstreaming Krishi Sakhis: Institutionalizing their role as the formal link between government technical departments and rural communities.

Conclusion

The empowerment of women farmers is a prerequisite for India’s goal of a $5 trillion economy. By transforming them from laborers into "Agri-entrepreneurs" through schemes like Namo Drone Didi, India can lead the global narrative during the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026.

Women Farmers in Agriculture