The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), headquartered in New York, the United State of America(USA), declared 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF) to acknowledge the critical role of women in agriculture and to raise awareness about the challenges they face globally in May 2024.
- The resolution was supported by over 100 countries, highlighting international recognition of women’s contribution to global food systems.
- In June 2025 this initiative aligns with insights gathered from a six-month-long symposia organised in India by the Royal Norwegian Embassy and the United Nations World Food Programme (UN-WFP) in collaboration with the Government of India (GoI). Around 200 participants from diverse sectors discussed gender-based inequalities in agriculture and proposed strategic reforms.
Note: In May 2024, the UNGA proclaimed 2026 as the IYWF, following a resolution initiated by the United States of America(USA).
Objectives of IYWF 2026:
i.Advance gender-equitable agrifood systems by promoting inclusive social protection and addressing systemic barriers that hinder women’s full participation.
ii.Highlight critical challenges faced by women farmers, including limited access to land ownership, credit, financing, and agricultural technologies.
iii.Strengthen the voice and agency of rural and peasant women by increasing their representation in leadership roles, policymaking, and decision-making platforms.
Key Contributions of Women in Agriculture:
i.Women account for 60% to 80% of food production in developing countries and 39% of agricultural labour in South Asia.
ii.In India, around 80% of economically active women are employed in agriculture.
iii.However, only 14% of agricultural landowners in India are women, with 8.3% ownership according to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS).
Challenges Faced by Women in Agriculture:
- Limited land and asset ownership
- Restricted access to credit, technology, and markets
- Lack of recognition as independent farmers
- Overburden of work from domestic and farm responsibilities.
India’s Initiatives for Women Farmers:
i.Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP): Enhances skill development and access to resources.
ii.Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation(SMAM): Offers 50% to 80% subsidies for farm equipment.
iii.National Food Security Mission (NFSM): Allocates 30% of the budget for women farmers.
iv.National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM): Promotes Self-Help Groups (SHGs) for financial inclusion.
v.Enhancing Nature-based Solutions for an Accelerated Climate Transformation(ENACT) Project (Nagaon, Assam): Delivers weekly climate advisories via mobile to 300+ women farmers in 17 villages.
Best Practices in India:
i.Deccan Development Society (Andhra Pradesh, AP) – Women-led cooperatives managing seed banks, focusing on millets.
ii.Swayam Shikshan Prayog (Maharashtra) – Trained over 80,000 women in climate-resilient farming and promoted FPOs.
iii.SHG-based Women-Led FPOs in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh(MP) – Improved market linkage and collective bargaining.
About United Nations General Assembly (UNGA):
President – Philémon Yang
Headquarters – New York, the United States of America (USA)
Established – 1945
