Pune, May 12: A call has been made for the establishment of a dedicated national-level body to strengthen the role and empowerment of women in India’s agriculture sector. The appeal was submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of World Mother’s Day by the Bharat Krishi Nari Samridhi Sangh and the Krishi Nari Abhiyan Samiti.
The representation seeks targeted policy support and structured national programmes for women farmers, agricultural labourers, vendors of farm produce, and women engaged in agro-based and food processing activities. It also urges the government to prioritise their welfare under the long-term vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, through the broader framework of “Krishi Nari – Samridhi Nari.”
The initiative, conceptualised by Raghunath Yemul, draws from long-term field engagement with farmers through “My Kisan Mart,” which highlighted key challenges faced by rural women, including limited access to markets, price instability, lack of formal training, and financial constraints.
The organisations behind the proposal are guided by Dr. Prashant Pagare, along with members Rashmi Maurya, B. J. Deshmukh, Kamini Balasaheb Deshmukh, Varsha Paigwar, and Sushila Singh.
The memorandum estimates that India has over 3.6 crore women cultivators and more than 6 crore women agricultural labourers, with over 10 crore women engaged across dairy, horticulture, livestock, and food processing sectors. It also notes that while women contribute significantly to agricultural production, land ownership among them remains limited at around 13.9 percent.
The appeal underscores the need for a unified national mechanism to enhance women’s participation in agriculture, improve livelihood security, and ensure greater economic inclusion in India’s rural development journey.