Empowering Women Farmers in Agriculture

Syllabus: GS1/ Society; GS3/ Economy

Context

• Rural women form the backbone of India’s agriculture, with 80% engaged in farming and allied activities. 

About

• Women participate across the entire agricultural value chain: crop production, livestock management, agroforestry, fishing, horticulture, post-harvest processing, packaging, and marketing. 
• Women are increasingly recognized as key agents in achieving sustainable agriculture and food security, especially under frameworks like the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).
• The United Nations has designated 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF 2026), in recognition of the vital and indispensable role of women in global agriculture.

Global Scenario

• Women constitute nearly 43% of the agricultural workforce in developing countries, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). In regions like Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, their share is even higher, indicating the feminisation of agriculture.
• The FAO estimates that if women had equal access to productive resources, farm yields could increase by 20–30%, potentially reducing global hunger by up to 150 million people.

Challenges

• Despite their critical role, women farmers face structural and institutional constraints:
  • Limited Land Ownership and Credit Gap: Though nearly 80% of rural women are engaged in agriculture, only about 13% own land, limiting their access to credit, farm loans, and government schemes, and leading to a significant gender gap in institutional finance. 
  • Technological Exclusion: Women farmers face limited access to mechanisation and digital tools, as farm equipment is often designed for male ergonomics, restricting effective use by women.
  • Unpaid Labour: A large share of women’s agricultural work remains unpaid; in many countries, women account for over 50% of unpaid farm labour, reflecting significant under-recognition.
  • Socio-cultural Constraints: Gender norms restrict women’s mobility and decision-making, with studies showing limited participation in leadership and access to markets due to entrenched social barriers.

Government Initiatives

• Financial Support and Credit:
  • Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF): Over 8,000+ projects sanctioned for women, improving storage and logistics.
  • PM-KISAN: Around 25% beneficiaries are women; over ₹1 lakh crore transferred to women since inception.
  • Modified Interest Subvention Scheme: The Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) is a central sector scheme that ensures the availability of short-term credit to farmers at affordable rates through the Kisan Credit Card (KCC).
• Technology and Skill Development
• Namo Drone Didi: Target to provide 15,000 drones to women SHGs.
• NBHM: Promotes beekeeping as a low-investment, high-return livelihood.
• DAY-NRLM: Over ₹11 lakh crore credit disbursed to women SHGs.
• Institutional Support
  • ICAR–CIWA: Develops women-friendly tools to reduce drudgery.
  • MANAGE & NGRCA: Promote gender-responsive agricultural policies.

Case Study / Example

• Kamini Nathsharma (Odisha): With support from ICAR–CIWA, she adopted an integrated farming system (vegetables, dairy, poultry, duck farming). This increased her income to ₹96,000 annually, with returns of ₹1.75 per ₹1 invested, demonstrating the impact of training, diversification, and institutional support.

Conclusion

• As India moves towards sustainable and inclusive development, empowering women farmers must remain central to agricultural policy. 
• Aligning efforts with the vision of the International Year of the Woman Farmer (2026) can accelerate the transition towards resilient, equitable, and gender-responsive agri-food systems.

Source: PIB