President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems (GCWAS–2026) at the ICAR Convention Centre in New Delhi on Wednesday. The three-day international conference, being held at the Bharat Ratna C. Subramaniam Hall, aims to highlight and strengthen the role of women in transforming agriculture and food systems.
Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan attended the event as the chief guest. The conference focuses on empowering women farmers, enhancing their leadership in agri-food systems and promoting gender-inclusive agricultural development.
Addressing the gathering, Chouhan said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several landmark initiatives have been taken to strengthen women’s participation in governance and development. He noted that the provision of 33 percent reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures, along with 50 percent reservation in local bodies in several states, has significantly expanded women’s role in public decision-making.
The minister highlighted that under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), more than 10 crore women have been organised into over 90 lakh self-help groups across the country. As a result, nearly three crore women have emerged as ‘Lakhpati Didis’, earning an annual income of more than ₹1 lakh. The government aims to empower six crore women economically in the coming years.
He also emphasised the increasing participation of women in agricultural research and education. According to him, ICAR-Central Institute for Women in Agriculture in Bhubaneswar has been working since 1996 to strengthen women’s role in agriculture. He noted that women’s participation in the Agricultural Research Service has increased from 7.9 percent in 2006–07 to nearly 41 percent in 2023–24, reflecting their growing contribution to agricultural science and innovation.
In her address, President Droupadi Murmu said that the future of agriculture will be stronger with greater participation and leadership of women farmers. She stressed the importance of sharing inspiring stories of women farmers to raise awareness about their contribution to agriculture and rural development.
The President also mentioned several women farmers who have received the Padma Shri for their outstanding work in agriculture, including Kamala Pujari from Odisha, Rahibai Soma Popere of Maharashtra, Rajkumari Devi from Bihar, and Kamla Devi Rongmei, who are known for their contributions to organic farming, seed conservation and community leadership.
Murmu welcomed the United Nations’ declaration of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, saying that the initiative would play an important role in addressing gender inequalities in agriculture and promoting women’s leadership in the sector.
She also highlighted several government initiatives aimed at women’s financial empowerment. Under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, around 56 percent of the 57 crore bank accounts opened are in the name of women, while 68 percent of beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana are women entrepreneurs. Initiatives such as the Namo Drone Didi Scheme and the Lakhpati Didi mission are also creating new economic opportunities for rural women.
R. S. Paroda, Chairman of the Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS), said the conference represents a significant step towards strengthening women’s transformative role across the agricultural value chain—from production and processing to value addition and market linkages. He emphasised that beyond representation, women must also be given leadership roles in agricultural development.
The conference, themed “Driving Progress, Attaining New Heights,” has attracted more than 700 participants from India and abroad. The three-day event, scheduled from March 12–14, 2026, includes policy dialogues, technical sessions and interactive forums focusing on gender equality, economic empowerment, access to technology, leadership development and inclusive agri-food value chains.
An exhibition showcasing women-focused agricultural technologies and innovations is also being organised during the conference, providing a platform for women entrepreneurs and start-ups to present their solutions. The global forum is expected to generate policy recommendations and strategies aimed at strengthening gender-responsive programmes and initiatives in agriculture and food systems.
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