Rights, justice, action for India’s women farmers, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• International Women's Day on March 8, 2026, will focus on equal rights and justice, aligning with the International Year of the Woman Farmer.
• Despite legal reforms, women farmers in India face barriers in accessing land rights, institutional credit, and agricultural resources.
• Agriculture is increasingly being feminized due to male migration, but women face heavy workloads, health issues, and malnutrition.
• India's right-to-food framework, including the National Food Security Act, has not adequately addressed women's nutritional needs.
• The M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and the World Food Programme (WFP) emphasize the need for gender-transformative approaches to empower women farmers.

Detailed Insights:

• Social norms and limited legal awareness prevent women from owning land, hindering their access to institutional support and recognition as farmers.
• Women's contributions to agriculture are undervalued due to a structural disconnect between their labor and formal recognition, leading to systemic exclusion.
• Heavy agricultural workloads and lack of support place immense pressure on women, leading to health issues and micronutrient deficiencies, impacting maternal and child health.
• The National Food Security Act, aimed at providing subsidized food, has shown uneven improvements in women's nutrition, with high rates of anemia remaining a concern.
• Prioritizing gender-disaggregated data, strengthening land rights, aligning food systems with nutritional objectives, and providing access to technology are crucial for empowering women farmers.
• Public procurement policies should promote cultivation of nutri-cereals, pulses, fruits, and vegetables by women farmers, distributing them through public channels.
• Access to labor-saving technologies and extension services can empower women farmers, enabling them to make informed decisions about farming practices and resource management.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Feminization of Agriculture: The increasing participation and responsibility of women in agricultural activities due to male migration.
• National Food Security Act: Indian legislation guaranteeing subsidized food and nutrition, especially for vulnerable populations.
• Gender-Transformative Approaches: Strategies that address systemic inequalities and empower women in agri-food systems.