Empowering Women in Agriculture for Food Security: India’s Untapped Potential

On the occasion of the International Year of the Woman Farmer (2026), the United Nations and key Indian stakeholders have reiterated the indispensable role of women in agriculture. This momentum aligns with recent policy pushes in India such as the Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana, ENACT initiatives in Assam, and targeted support through the National Food Security Mission.

Amid rising climate threats and food insecurity, the focus has shifted globally and nationally toward making women integral stakeholders in agricultural sustainability and food resilience.

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction: Why Women in Agriculture Matter

2. The Gender Gap in Agriculture: A Structural Barrier

3. Challenges Faced by Women Farmers

4. Government Initiatives Empowering Women in Agri

5. Climate Change and Women Farmers: Double Jeopardy

6. Role of Technology and Innovation

7. Models of Community-Led Resilience

8. Way Forward: Policy, Programs, and Participation

9. Conclusion: Towards Gender-Just Food Systems

1. Introduction: Why Women in Agriculture Matter

Women contribute nearly 50% of the agricultural labour force in developing nations and produce 60–80% of food. In India, they account for 33% of the cultivator workforce and 47% of the total agri-labour, yet their visibility, recognition, and access to rights remain marginal.

Empowering women in agriculture isn’t just about equity it’s about unlocking a critical force for national food security, economic growth, and climate adaptation.

2. The Gender Gap in Agriculture: A Structural Barrier

Despite their significant presence in farming:

• Women own only 13% of land holdings in India.

• Access to formal credit, market linkages, and agri-extension services remains skewed.

• Participation in decision-making bodies from Panchayats to agri-cooperatives is minimal.

• Disparities in agricultural wages, technology use, and insurance coverage further marginalize them.

This gender gap is not merely a reflection of social bias it structurally undermines productivity, resilience, and food systems.

3. Challenges Faced by Women Farmers:

These barriers reduce efficiency and create a double burden of labour and invisibility.

4. Government Initiatives Empowering Women in Agri:

Several flagship programs and state-level initiatives are addressing the gap:

• Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP): Trains women in sustainable agri-practices and collective farming.

• Subsidies on Agri Mechanisation: 50–80% subsidies for women-led farmer groups.

• 30% Earmarked Budget in NFSM: Reserved allocations for women in food security programs.

• ENACT Project in Assam: A model of resilience-building using community-based climate solutions and women’s empowerment.

These efforts aim to translate policy promises into grassroots change, particularly in vulnerable states.

5. Climate Change and Women Farmers: Double Jeopardy

Women are disproportionately affected by climate change:

• They are often responsible for subsistence farming, which is highly climate-sensitive.

• Frequent floods, droughts, and shifting seasons increase their labour and care burdens.

• Lower access to early warning systems and crop insurance compounds their vulnerability.

Programs like ENACT in flood-prone Assam integrate women in climate-smart agricultural planning, helping communities adapt through indigenous crop choices, diversified farming, and risk mitigation.

6. Role of Technology and Innovation:

Integrating women into digital and technological ecosystems in agriculture can be transformative:

• Use of mobile-based advisories, e-Mandis, and online credit access tools.

• Gender-specific agri-extension services for training in irrigation, pest control, and organic farming.

• Promotion of women-led agri-tech startups in post-harvest management and logistics.

However, technology must be localized, affordable, and culturally accessible to ensure adoption.

7. Models of Community-Led Resilience:

The future lies in women-centric cooperative models and self-help groups:

• Collective land leasing and input procurement through SHGs.

• Women-led producer companies have shown better yield and financial returns.

• Community-based climate resilience planning with local governance integration.

• Focused partnerships with agricultural universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendras for training.

These models not only build resilience but also create leadership pathways for women.

8. Way Forward: Policy, Programs, and Participation:

What India needs now is not just policy recognition but transformative execution:

Policy Suggestions:

• Make land rights for women legally and administratively easier.

• Ensure all agri-schemes mandate minimum 33% participation by women.

• Institutionalize gender budgeting in agriculture ministries.

Programmatic Reforms:

• Gender-disaggregated data for targeted interventions.

• Customised crop insurance schemes for women-headed farms.

• Promote FPOs (Farmer Producer Organisations) led by women.

Social Participation:

• Women must be represented in Panchayats, agri-cooperatives, and water-user groups.

• Integrate nutrition, health, and education linkages for farm women.

• Support gender-sensitization training for male farmers and agri officers.

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9. Conclusion: Towards Gender-Just Food Systems

Empowering women in agriculture is not a side issue it is central to achieving food security, climate resilience, and rural development. With the right mix of policy, participation, and political will, India can create an agricultural ecosystem that is not only more productive but also more just, inclusive, and sustainable.

As we approach 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer this is not just an opportunity. It is a moral and developmental imperative.