President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday emphasised the need to increase the participation of women in policymaking and leadership in the agriculture sector while 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 in agriculture, the President said women are involved in nearly every stage of agricultural activity, from sowing and harvesting to processing and marketing of crops. She noted that women also play a major role 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, adding that increased participation would promote gender-inclusive agricultural growth.
Women’s strong presence in agricultural education
The President pointed out that women are increasingly entering agricultural education, noting that girls make up more than 50 per cent of students in state agricultural universities and over 60 per cent in many institutions. She said these students also demonstrate strong academic performance.
President Murmu stressed that governments, society and stakeholders in the agriculture sector must provide support and encouragement so that young women can take leadership roles in agriculture and agri-food systems.
She also said that society must move beyond traditional perceptions about women’s roles.
“Leadership is inherent in motherhood. However, motherhood is often considered to be confined within the home. We must overcome this mindset and empower women farmers to provide leadership,” she said.
Global focus on women farmers
The President noted that the United Nations has declared 2026 as the ‘International Year of the Woman Farmer’, a move aimed at promoting gender equality and strengthening women’s leadership across agri-food value chains worldwide.
She said India is advancing with the vision of women-led development, and increasing women’s participation in agriculture will play a key role in achieving sustainable and inclusive growth.
Support systems for women farmers
President Murmu highlighted the need to address challenges faced by women farmers, including issues related to land ownership, access to technology, financial resources and institutional support.
She noted that in recent years, several initiatives have been introduced to empower women in agriculture, particularly through Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs).
“These initiatives have been effective in strengthening women’s participation and empowerment in agriculture,” she said.
Gender inclusion key to sustainable development
The President also referred to the global emphasis on balancing People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnerships, and called for special attention to gender equality within these priorities.
She expressed confidence that the conference would help identify strategies to strengthen policy frameworks and promote women’s participation in building sustainable and inclusive agri-food systems.
Conference organised by key institutions
The three-day conference is being 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.
The event aims to deliberate on strengthening policy frameworks and promoting gender mainstreaming in agriculture while recognising the critical role women play in agri-food systems globally.
