From Advocacy to Rights: Recognising Women Farmers and their Contribution in Agriculture

Join us for an engaging conversation with key stakeholders who shaped the journey of the Maharashtra Women Farmers Empowerment Act, 2026

Women farmers act 2026 Event poster

Details

Women are the backbone of Indian agriculture, contributing substantially to food production and rural livelihoods. Yet, their work often goes unrecognised, with limited access to land rights, credit, technology and institutional support.

As we mark 2026 as the Year of the Woman Farmer, the Maharashtra Women Farmers Empowerment Act, 2026, offers an opportunity to reflect on a landmark step towards recognising women as farmers, irrespective of land ownership.

Join us for an engaging conversation with key stakeholders who shaped the journey of the Act, exploring:

  • Grassroots advocacy to legislation
  • Recognising women farmers beyond land ownership
  • Institutional pathways to rights and entitlements
  • The road ahead for women’s empowerment in agriculture

What is the Women Farmers Empowerment Act?

In July 2026, Maharashtra passed the Women Farmers’ Empowerment Act, becoming the first Indian State, to give enforceable legal form to the activity-based, land-delinked definition of ​‘farmer’ that the National Policy for Farmers set out in 2007. The legislation grants women independent recognition as farmers irrespective of land ownership, through a Woman Farmer Certificate. This is a major step in breaking structural barriers for reducing the gender yield and income gap in agriculture. The bill has its genesis as a private member bill in Rajya Sabha by Prof M S Swaminathan. 

The Maharashtra legislations is a culmination of years of evidence-based policy advocacy. Mobilisation, and ground level activism of Civil Society Organisations. It’s a coming of age of women’s movement backed by Civil Society in Agriculture. The panel discussion aims to bring in institutional stakeholders who played a key role in facilitating adoption of this bill by the Maharashtra Government. 

Panellists

  • Dr R V Bhavani, Senior Fellow, M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai
  • Dr Seema Kulkarni, Senior Fellow and Founding Member, Society for Promoting Participative Eco-System Management, Pune (SOPPECOM)
  • Mr Bhim Rasker-Director, Resource and Support Centre for Development, Maharashtra

Moderators