The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer.

• The initiative recognizes the essential role of women in agriculture and food security, while addressing gender disparities in land ownership, market access, credit, and technology.

Key Highlights: Women’s Role in Agriculture

• Women contribute to nearly 50% of the global food supply.
• In developing countries, women produce 60–80% of food.
• In South Asia, they constitute 39% of agricultural labour.
• In India, ~80% of economically active women work in agriculture, but only 8.3% own farm land and 14% land ownership (as per latest National Family Health Survey).
• As per PLFS 2023-24,  Over three-quarter (76.95%) of rural women are now engaged in agriculture, indicating a significant rise in their role as cultivators and laborers.
  

Challenges faced by women farmer

• Double Burden of Work: Women often juggle unpaid domestic responsibilities alongside agricultural work.
  • This limits their time, productivity, and participation in decision-making processes.
• Low land ownership: Restricts access to credit, technology, and government schemes.
• Limited access to agri-advisories: Due to digital divide (mobile/internet usage).
  • 51% rural women aged 15+  don’t own a mobile phone ( NSO).
• Climate Vulnerability: Increases women’s domestic and agricultural burdens.
  • For example: In Vidarbha, Maharashtra, widows of farmers who committed suicide struggle with debt repayment and legal land ownership issues.
• Inadequate financing: Microfinance helps but often insufficient for capital investment.

Way forward: Policy Recommendations

• Gender-sensitive Policy Design
  • Collect granular, sex-disaggregated data for targeted interventions to women’s specific challenges.
  • For example: The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana has introduced special provisions for female farmers to access irrigation schemes.
• Access to Resources
  • Improve access to land, credit, digital tech, weather info services, etc.
  • According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), farm output in developing countries can be raised by 2.5 to 4% by ensuring men and women equal access to resources, skill development, and opportunities in agriculture.
• Women-led Agri-Value Chains
  • Support women’s SHGs, collective action & value-chain participation.
• Capacity Building & Behaviour Change
  • Ensure participation in planning, technology dissemination, decision-making.
• Shifting Societal Perceptions of Female Farmers: Recognizing women as equal contributors in agriculture can challenge gender biases and improve their social status.
  • For example: The “Kisan Sakhi” initiative in Maharashtra promotes women-led farmer groups, giving them market visibility and leadership roles.

Conclusion

The declaration of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer presents a historic opportunity to advance resilient agricultural development and gender equality. 

• By recognising, empowering, and investing in women farmers, we can strengthen food security, drive inclusive economic growth, and promote sustainable, climate-resilient farming systems.

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