The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare organizes a national event to acknowledge women farmers' significant contributions to Indian agriculture, emphasizing their role in advancing agricultural development and building a developed India.
On 15 October 2026, the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India, hosted a national-level celebration of Mahila Kisan Diwas 2026 at the Dr. B. R. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi. The event aimed to recognize and honor women farmers' significant contributions to Indian agriculture and highlight their role in advancing agricultural development and building a developed India.
The programme coincided with the International Day of Rural Women, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007, recognizing rural women's contribution to agricultural and rural development. Women are an integral part of India's agricultural system. From sowing, transplanting, and harvesting to livestock management, seed conservation, natural resource management, and value addition, women contribute significantly across the agricultural value chain.
According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey conducted by NSO, MoSPI in 2025, females constituted 59.8% of the total workforce engaged in agricultural activities. The year 2026 has been declared the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF 2026) by the United Nations, providing a global platform to recognize women farmers' contributions to agrifood systems and promote their empowerment.
The theme for Mahila Kisan Diwas 2026 is ‘Role of Women Farmers in Building Developed Agriculture and a Developed India.’ The event highlights women's leadership in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat through the adoption of modern agricultural technologies, crop diversification, livestock management, conservation of natural resources, and development of agriculture-based enterprises.
The celebration of Mahila Kisan Diwas 2026 was not limited to New Delhi. It was also celebrated across various States and Union Territories, Extension Education Institutes (EEIs), SAMETIs, and MANAGE. Each venue had participation from elected representatives, officials, scientists, extension workers, and other stakeholders, alongside 50-100 women farmers. Particular emphasis was given on securing the participation of women farmers from tribal regions.
Women agricultural officers and extension functionaries also play a crucial role in connecting agricultural research with farming communities through the dissemination of scientific farming practices, promotion of modern technologies, training, and awareness generation about government schemes.
Source:
Press Information Bureau
