Gender Disparities in Indian Agriculture: Policy Interventions and Climate Change Impact

The Hindu - Opinion · 6 Mar 2026 · 2 min read
Prelims · Social issues Mains · GS2 Social justice High relevance

The FAO's declaration of 2026 as the 'International Year of the Woman Farmer' highlights the critical yet underrecognized role of women in Indian agriculture, who face systemic barriers like land ownership disparities and climate vulnerability despite constituting 64% of the workforce.

Key points

International Year of the Woman Farmer (2026): FAO-led initiative aims to address gender inequalities in agriculture, focusing on resource access and decision-making parity, directly aligning with SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger).

Gender Workforce Disparity: Women constitute 64% of India’s agricultural workforce, handling 70% of farm tasks, yet own only 13.9% of land holdings, limiting access to schemes like PM-KISAN and KCC.

Climate Change Vulnerability: Women farmers adapt less to climate change due to restricted access to technology, information, and decision-making, exacerbating workloads amid heatwaves and erratic rainfall patterns.

Policy Interventions: Government measures include reduced stamp duty for women land registrants, 30% quota in agricultural mechanization schemes, and the Namo Drone Didi initiative to reduce drudgery.

DAY-NRLM: Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana mobilizes 10 crore households into 91 lakh SHGs, fostering financial inclusion and livelihood programs like MKSP, which promotes sustainable farming practices.

Community Resource Persons (CRPs): Over 2 lakh Krishi Sakhis and Pashu Sakhis under DAY-NRLM act as extension workers, bridging gaps in agricultural knowledge and technology dissemination.

[GS3-Economy] Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs): 800 FPOs under the 10K FPO scheme enhance women’s market access, with 37,031 Custom Hiring Centers (CHCs) modernizing equipment availability.

Way Forward: India should mandate joint land titling, integrate gender-sensitive climate adaptation in NAPCC, and scale up CRP networks to strengthen women’s agency in agricultural decision-making.

Key terms

Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-NRLM (DAY-NRLM)

A flagship poverty alleviation program under the Ministry of Rural Development, DAY-NRLM organizes rural women into SHGs for financial inclusion and livelihood enhancement. It aligns with the National Rural Livelihood Mission's goal to reduce poverty through collective action and has mobilized 10 crore households, making it pivotal for UPSC GS2 (Governance) and GS3 (Inclusive Growth).

Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

A sub-scheme of DAY-NRLM, MKSP empowers women farmers by promoting sustainable agricultural practices and NTFP management. It addresses gender gaps in agriculture and is relevant for UPSC GS3 (Agriculture) and GS2 (Social Justice).

Community Resource Persons (CRPs)

Grassroots-level trainers like Krishi Sakhis under DAY-NRLM, who disseminate agricultural best practices. Their role in decentralizing extension services is crucial for UPSC GS3 (Extension Services) and GS2 (Participatory Governance).

International Year of the Woman Farmer (2026)

A UN-designated year to highlight women's contributions to food systems, coordinated by FAO. It underscores global commitments to SDG 5 and is significant for UPSC GS2 (International Organizations) and GS3 (Agriculture).