Why in the news
The UN named 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer, and India is hosting a global conference on women in agri-food systems, spotlighting women’s farm work, food security and policy reform.
Key data
| Indicator | Figure |
|---|
| Economically active rural women in agriculture | 80% |
| Agricultural labourers | 33% |
| Self-employed farmers | 48% |
| Women’s share of PM-KISAN benefits | 25% (₹1.01 lakh crore) |
| Women trained, 2022–2025 | 2.58 crore |
| Women-only FPOs | 1,175 |
Roles in agriculture
- Crop production: sowing, weeding, transplanting; vital in paddy.
- Livestock: dairy, poultry, small ruminants; Pashu Sakhis give veterinary services.
- Post-harvest: processing, packaging, marketing, e.g. mushrooms and spices.
- Natural resources: biodiversity and soil health via natural farming.
- Technology: drones and modern tools, as in Namo Drone Didi.
Government initiatives
| Scheme | Details |
|---|
| Namo Drone Didi | Central aid of 80% for 15,000 drones for women’s self-help groups |
| MKSP (Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana) | Sub-scheme of DAY-NRLM for skills and capacity |
| Agriculture Infrastructure Fund | 3% interest subvention for warehousing and cold storage |
| Krishi Sakhi | 70,000 women trained as para-extension workers |
Exam angle
- MKSP sits under DAY-NRLM.
- Useful for NABARD, UPSC GS-3 and GS-1.