President Murmu calls for greater role for Women in Agriculture policy and leadership

Droupadi Murmu on Thursday emphasised the need to strengthen the role of women in agriculture and agri-food systems , urging greater participation of women in policy formulation, decision-making and leadership positions across the sector.

Addressing the three-day Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems, the President said empowering women farmers and ensuring their representation at every level of the agricultural value chain would promote gender-inclusive growth . She also called for the publication and wider dissemination of success stories of women in agriculture so that their contributions are recognised and can inspire others.

Highlighting India’s commitment to women-led development, Murmu said women farmers should receive targeted support in key areas such as land ownership, access to technical knowledge and institutional finance. Addressing these challenges, she said, would help close gender gaps in the sector and strengthen rural livelihoods.

The President also highlighted the growing role of technology in agriculture. Referring to “Sarlaben,” an AI-powered initiative inspired by the government’s vision for improved livestock care, she said emerging technologies are creating new opportunities for women farmers to enhance productivity and efficiency.

Murmu noted that several women farmers from states such as Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Odisha and Bihar have been honoured with the Padma Shri award for their contributions to the agricultural sector. She said the younger generation should draw inspiration from these trailblazers and actively contribute to the development of Indian agriculture.

Welcoming the United Nations’ declaration of 2026 as the International Year of Women Farmers, the President described it as a call for collective action to address gender gaps and promote women’s leadership across agri-food value chains.

She also highlighted several government initiatives aimed at economically empowering women. Under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, which has created over 570 million bank accounts , nearly 56 per cent are held by women . Women also account for 68 per cent of beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana .

Through the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), more than 10 crore rural household s and about 90 lakh self-help groups have been mobilised. Over 4.6 crore women farmers under the programme have received support for adopting improved farming practices.

Murmu also referred to the Namo Drone Didi Scheme , which provides drones to women self-help groups for precision agriculture. Under the mission, the government aims to create six crore “Lakhpati Didis,” of whom more than three crore have already crossed the ₹1 lakh annual income mark.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and other senior officials attended the conference, which will also deliberate on gender-sensitive policies, entrepreneurship models, digital tools and climate-smart technologies aimed at strengthening women’s role in agriculture.