|
|
|
You can get e-magazine links on WhatsApp. Click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mahila Kisan Diwas to honour women farmers
|
|
Thursday, 15 October, 2026, 16 : 00 PM [IST]
|
|
Our Bureau, Mumbai
|
The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India, is organising the national-level celebration of Mahila Kisan Diwas 2026 on October 15 at the Dr. B. R. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. The event will recognise the contributions of women farmers to Indian agriculture and highlight their role in advancing agricultural development and achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat.
Observed alongside the International Day of Rural Women, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007, Mahila Kisan Diwas highlights the contribution of rural women to agricultural production, food systems and rural development.
Women play a significant role across India's agricultural value chain, contributing to sowing, transplanting, harvesting, livestock management, seed conservation, natural resource management and value addition. Their traditional knowledge, biodiversity conservation efforts, entrepreneurial initiatives and adoption of sustainable farming practices are important for strengthening rural livelihoods and improving agricultural resilience.
According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), women accounted for 59.8 per cent of the total workforce engaged in agricultural activities during January–December 2025.
The observance gains further significance as the United Nations has declared 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF 2026). The initiative provides a global platform to recognise women's contributions to agrifood systems and promote their empowerment, including improved access to agricultural resources, technology and institutional support.
The theme for Mahila Kisan Diwas 2026, “Role of Women Farmers in Building Developed Agriculture and a Developed India,” underscores the leadership of women in transforming the agricultural sector. Their contributions to modern agricultural technology adoption, crop diversification, livestock management, natural resource conservation and agriculture-based enterprises are helping make farming more productive, sustainable and self-reliant.
The national-level programme will bring together distinguished women farmers from various states and Union Territories, women agricultural officers, extension functionaries and officials from DA&FW. The event will provide a platform to recognise achievements, exchange experiences and share successful agricultural practices while encouraging greater participation and leadership of women across the sector.
Mahila Kisan Diwas will also be celebrated across states and Union Territories, Extension Education Institutes (EEIs), State Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institutes (SAMETIs) and the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE). These programmes will involve elected representatives, government officials, scientists, extension workers and other stakeholders, alongside 50–100 women farmers at each venue. Special emphasis has been placed on ensuring the participation of women farmers from tribal regions.
Women agricultural officers and extension functionaries also play a vital role in bridging the gap between agricultural research and farming communities. Through scientific knowledge dissemination, training, awareness programmes and the promotion of modern technologies and government schemes, they help farmers improve practices and access relevant resources.
The celebration reaffirms the importance of women's empowerment in driving agricultural progress and rural prosperity. Strengthening women's access to technology, resources, training and institutional support, alongside recognising their contributions, remains essential to building developed agriculture and a developed India.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|