International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 — India’s GCWAS Conference
🗞️ Why in News The United Nations designated 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF 2026), and India hosted the Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems (GCWAS-2026) in New Delhi, spotlighting women’s invisible yet indispensable role in agriculture and food security.
Women in Indian Agriculture — The Invisible Backbone
Despite contributing the majority of agricultural labour, women farmers in India remain largely invisible in statistics, policy, and land records.
Key Statistics
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Rural women in agriculture | 80% of economically active rural women |
| Women as agricultural labourers | 33% of total |
| Women as self-employed farmers | 48% |
| Women’s share of operational holdings | 13.87% (Agriculture Census 2015-16) |
| PM-KISAN benefits reaching women | 25% (Rs 1.01 lakh crore total disbursed) |
| Women trained in agro-ecology (2022-25) | 2.58 crore |
| Women-led FPOs | 1,175 (with 100% women shareholders) |
The Feminisation of Agriculture
As men migrate to cities for non-farm work, women increasingly manage farms independently. This “feminisation of agriculture” is most pronounced in:
- Hill states: Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Northeast India
- Tribal areas: Where women traditionally have greater economic roles
- Drought-prone regions: Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha — where male out-migration is highest
Yet most agricultural extension services, credit facilities, and training programmes continue to target male farmers.
Government Schemes for Women Farmers
Namo Drone Didi
- Launched: 2024
- Target: 15,000 drones distributed to women Self-Help Groups (SHGs)
- Subsidy: 80% of drone cost
- Purpose: Precision agriculture — crop spraying, monitoring, nutrient management
- Women trained: As drone pilots and service providers, generating Rs 1 lakh/year additional income
Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)
- Under: DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana — National Rural Livelihoods Mission)
- Focus: Sustainable agriculture training, organic farming, livestock management
- Beneficiaries: Women farmers in SHGs across 15 states
Krishi Sakhi Programme
- Target: 70,000 women para-extension workers by 2026
- Role: Bridge the last-mile gap between government agricultural schemes and women farmers
- Training: 56-day course covering soil health, organic farming, crop diversification
Other Key Schemes
| Scheme | Benefit |
|---|---|
| PM-KISAN | Rs 6,000/year to farmer families (25% women beneficiaries) |
| Agriculture Infrastructure Fund | 3% interest subvention for agri-infrastructure |
| SHG-Bank Linkage | World’s largest microfinance programme |
| National Food Security Mission | Includes women-targeted components |
| Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana | Crop insurance (women farmer enrolment increasing) |
Challenges Facing Women Farmers
1. Land Ownership Crisis
- Only 13.87% of operational holdings are in women’s names (Agriculture Census 2015-16)
- Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005 granted equal coparcenary rights to daughters — but implementation remains poor
- Without land titles, women cannot access institutional credit, crop insurance, or government subsidies
2. Credit Access Gap
- Most women borrow from informal sources (money-lenders, SHGs) at higher interest rates
- Only 9.6% of agricultural credit goes to women farmers (RBI data)
- Banks require land collateral — which most women lack
3. Drudgery and Health
- Women perform physically demanding tasks (transplanting, weeding, harvesting) with traditional tools
- Exposure to pesticides without protective equipment
- Musculoskeletal disorders are highly prevalent among women agricultural workers
4. Climate Vulnerability
- Women have fewer resources to adapt to climate change
- Drought and flood impacts fall disproportionately on women who manage household food security
- Migration of male family members during climate events increases women’s workload
GCWAS-2026 — Key Outcomes
The Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems held in New Delhi called for:
- Gender-disaggregated agricultural data — making women’s contribution measurable
- Land rights reform — implementing existing laws on women’s land ownership
- Digital agriculture access — women-friendly agri-tech platforms
- Climate-resilient agriculture — targeted adaptation programmes for women
- Credit without collateral — expanding SHG-Bank Linkage and Joint Liability Group models
Global Context
| Country | Women in Agriculture |
|---|---|
| India | 80% of rural women |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | 60% of agricultural workforce |
| Southeast Asia | 50%+ |
| Latin America | 20% |
| OECD countries | <10% |
The FAO estimates that if women had equal access to productive resources as men, they could increase farm yields by 20-30%, reducing global hunger by 12-17%.
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: IYWF 2026, MKSP, Namo Drone Didi, Agriculture Census data, ICAR-CIWA Mains GS-I: Feminisation of agriculture, gender and social stratification Mains GS-II: Women empowerment schemes, land rights Mains GS-III: Agricultural productivity, food security, climate-resilient farming
📌 Facts Corner — Knowledgepedia
International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026:
- Declared by: UN General Assembly
- India event: GCWAS-2026, New Delhi
- Aligned SDGs: SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) + SDG 5 (Gender Equality)
Women in Indian Agriculture:
- 80% of economically active rural women in agriculture
- 13.87% operational holdings in women’s names (Census 2015-16)
- 9.6% of agricultural credit to women farmers
- PM-KISAN: 25% women beneficiaries
Key Schemes:
- Namo Drone Didi: 15,000 drones, 80% subsidy, women SHGs
- MKSP: Under DAY-NRLM, sustainable agriculture for women
- Krishi Sakhi: 70,000 women para-extension workers
- SHG-Bank Linkage: World’s largest microfinance programme
Key Institutions:
- ICAR-CIWA: Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar
- FPO: Farmer Producer Organisation (min. 300 members, 100 for hilly/tribal)
- DAY-NRLM: Under Ministry of Rural Development
- NABARD: National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (SHG refinance)
Other Relevant Facts:
- Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005: Equal coparcenary rights to daughters
- FAO estimate: Equal access could increase women’s farm yields by 20-30%
- India’s women SHGs: 90 lakh SHGs with 10 crore+ women members
- Lakhpati Didi: Target — 3 crore women in SHGs earning Rs 1 lakh+/year
Sources: PIB, Insights on India, FAO