THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, MARCH 12, 2026

Stressing the need for stronger gender representation in the agricultural sector, President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday said that women engaged in agriculture must have a greater role in policy formulation, decision-making and leadership positions to ensure inclusive and sustainable growth of the sector. She was addressing the inaugural session of the Global Conference on the Role of Women in Agri-Food Systems (GCWAS-2026) in New Delhi.

Highlighting the critical contribution of women to India’s agricultural economy, the President said that women are actively involved in almost every aspect of agriculture — from sowing and harvesting to processing and transporting produce to markets. She noted that their role also extends across allied activities such as fisheries, beekeeping, animal husbandry, sustainable utilization of forest produce, and running agriculture-based enterprises, making them indispensable to rural livelihoods and the broader agri-food ecosystem.

President Murmu underlined that girls today constitute more than 50 percent of students in state agricultural universities, and in several institutions their participation exceeds 60 percent. She added that these students consistently demonstrate outstanding academic performance. Emphasizing the need to nurture this emerging talent pool, she said that governments, institutions, and all stakeholders in the agricultural sector must provide every possible support and encouragement to enable these young women to take leadership roles in agriculture and food systems.

Reflecting on social perceptions, the President observed that leadership is inherent in motherhood, yet it is often viewed only within the confines of the household. She said it is essential to move beyond this mindset and recognize the leadership potential of women farmers. According to her, empowering women in agriculture will strengthen communities, improve productivity, and promote equitable development.

She also pointed out that the United Nations has declared 2026 as the ‘International Year of the Woman Farmer’, a recognition that calls for collective global action to bridge gender gaps and promote leadership roles for women across agri-food value chains. The declaration, she said, provides an important opportunity for nations and institutions to accelerate reforms that ensure women farmers receive equal recognition, resources, and opportunities.

The President further noted that India is steadily progressing toward the vision of women-led development. She emphasised that enhancing women’s participation across all levels of agriculture — from grassroots production to institutional leadership — will contribute significantly to gender-inclusive agricultural growth.

Addressing structural challenges faced by women farmers, President Murmu stressed the importance of facilitating access to formal land titles, technical knowledge, financial resources, and institutional support systems. She expressed satisfaction that over the past decade India has introduced several initiatives aimed at empowering women in agriculture, particularly through women-led Self-Help Groups and Farmer Producer Organisations. These initiatives, she said, have played a vital role in strengthening women’s participation in agricultural activities and entrepreneurship.

Highlighting the broader global development agenda, the President said there is growing international consensus on giving equal importance to the five pillars of development — People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnerships. She urged stakeholders to give special priority to gender equality within the ‘People’ dimension. According to her, meaningful gender inclusion in all sectors, including agriculture, will not only help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) but also make the planet more balanced, compassionate, and harmonious.

Expressing optimism about the conference, the President said that discussions among experts, policymakers, researchers, and practitioners would generate innovative ideas and collaborative strategies to strengthen women’s role in agri-food systems and accelerate sustainable agricultural development.

The three-day Global Conference on the Role of Women in Agri-Food Systems (GCWAS-2026) is jointly organised by the Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS), the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), and the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority (PPV&FRA). The conference aims to deliberate on strengthening policy frameworks and institutional ecosystems to mainstream gender participation while highlighting the indispensable contribution of women in building resilient, sustainable, and inclusive agri-food systems.