Women Must Lead In Agriculture Policy And Decision-Making, Says President Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday highlighted the importance of increasing women’s participation in policymaking and leadership within the agriculture sector, while addressing the inaugural session of the Global Conference on the Role of Women in Agri-Food Systems (GCWAS-2026). She underscored that women are involved in nearly every stage of agricultural activity, including sowing, harvesting, processing, and marketing, as well as in fisheries, beekeeping, animal husbandry, and forest-based livelihoods.

“Women in the agriculture sector should get a greater role in policy formulation, decision-making and leadership positions,” President Murmu said, noting that enhancing their participation would promote gender-inclusive growth in agriculture. She stressed that governments, society, and stakeholders must support young women to assume leadership roles and move beyond traditional perceptions of women’s roles.

The President pointed to the growing presence of women in agricultural education, observing that girls make up more than 50 percent of students in state agricultural universities and over 60 percent in many institutions, often demonstrating strong academic performance. She emphasized that leadership is inherent in motherhood but must extend beyond domestic confines, empowering women farmers to take active leadership roles in agri-food systems.

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President Murmu also referenced the global context, noting that the United Nations has declared 2026 as the ‘International Year of the Woman Farmer’ to promote gender equality and strengthen women’s leadership across agricultural value chains. She said India is advancing the vision of women-led development, and greater inclusion of women in agriculture is key to achieving sustainable and inclusive growth.

Addressing support mechanisms, the President highlighted challenges faced by women farmers, including land ownership, access to technology, financial resources, and institutional backing. She pointed to initiatives such as Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) as effective measures to strengthen women’s empowerment and participation in the sector.

The three-day conference, jointly organised by the Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research, and the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority, aims to deliberate on policy frameworks, gender mainstreaming, and strategies to strengthen women’s role in building sustainable and inclusive agri-food systems worldwide.

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