Context: The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer. The resolution celebrates the essential role of women in global agriculture while raising awareness of their challenges, which include property rights and market access.
Relevance of the Topic: Mains: Role of women in Agriculture and challenges faced by them.
Women in Agriculture
- Women contribute 60-80% of food production in developing countries and form 39% of the agricultural labour force in South Asia.
- In India, approximately 80% of all economically active women are employed in agriculture.
- According to Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023‑24, 64.4 % of India's agricultural workforce are women.
These figures highlight the vital role of women in agriculture. Yet, their contribution remains undervalued due to systemic gender biases in land ownership, access to credit, and representation in policy making.
Key Challenges Faced by Women Farmers
- Land Ownership Disparity: In India, the percentage of women who own agricultural land is significantly lower than that of men, despite women constituting a substantial part of the farm workforce. Only 14% of agricultural landholders in India are women; NFHS-5 puts this figure even lower at 8.3%.
- Limited access to formal credit: Lack of land ownership makes it difficult to obtain credit and limits their access to financial institutions. While microfinance and self-help groups provide some access, such loans are often insufficient for significant investments. Less than 15% of female farmers access institutional credit (NABARD All India Rural Financial Inclusion Survey 2016-17). Consequently, they rely on informal sources, leading to exploitative debt cycles.
- Invisibility in Agricultural Policy: Agricultural policies and schemes are often male-centric. As per MS Swaminathan, “The female face of farming is missing from policy frameworks.”
- Double Burden and Time Poverty: Time Use Survey (2019) shows women spend 3-5 hours more daily on unpaid care work, reducing their capacity for skill-building or secondary livelihoods.
- Limited access to technology: Regular access to information on agricultural planning and advisory is essential for farmers, but women have more limited access to technology, such as mobile phones.
- Mechanisation Gap: Mechanised tools are predominantly designed for male farmers.
- Climate Change disproportionately affects women farmers by increasing their domestic responsibilities and elevating their exposure to agricultural risks like crop failure.
These obstacles hinder investments, technology adoption and improvements in livelihoods.
Government Initiatives for Women in Agriculture:
The Government of India supports small women farmers to enhance skills and promote sustainable agriculture.
- Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP): Upgrades skills and increases resource access for women.
- Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation: Offers 50–80% subsidies on farm machinery for women.
- National Food Security Mission (NFSM): 30% fund allocation for women in some states and UTs.
- Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and DAY-NRLM: Promote group farming, micro-financing, and entrepreneurship.
Way Forward: Policy Recommendations
- Gender-Sensitive Agricultural Policies: Policy design and implementation should take into account the unique needs of women farmers. E.g., Designing Women-Centric Farm Tools.
- Granular data with a gender lens are needed to develop solutions tailored to women’s needs.
- Focus on agri-value chains that support women farmers and are managed by women.
- Enhance women’s access to financing mechanisms and information while supporting their collective action and networks, such as women’s self-help groups.
- Secure Land Ownership through joint or individual land titles.
Women are the backbone of agriculture, yet they remain marginalised in land rights, credit access, and decision-making. As M.S. Swaminathan aptly said, "If agriculture is to be sustainable and equitable, the invisible face of the woman farmer must become visible.