Lok Sabha Question No. 2869 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-10
Subject: Empowerment of Women in Agriculture
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Asaduddin Owaisi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2869

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 TH  March, 2026

## EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE

2869. SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

Will  the Minister  of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that approximately 42% of the agricultural workforce comprises women, and nearly half of them are unpaid family workers;
- (b) if so, the details of steps taken by the Government to leverage technology to formalize women's agricultural labor and ensure a good income;
- (c) whether the Government is addressing the challenges, like the lack of land ownership for women, which restricts access to formalised credit, subsidies, and insurance scheme; if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government plans to formulate an action plan to leverage the International Year of Women Farmers 2026 for the empowerment of women agricultural laborers, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY)

(a): The  Government  is  implementing  several  schemes  for  farmers,  including  women farmers,  according  to  existing  eligibility  rules.  The  Periodic  Labour  Force  Survey  (PLFS) conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO), MoSPI, covers the estimated percentage of  the  workforce  engaged  in  the  agricultural  sector.  In  rural  areas,  female  agricultural employment  rose  from  73.2  percent  in  2017-18  to  76.9  percent  in  2023-24.  From  the gender perspective, the female labour force participation rate (FLFPR) has been rising for seven years, i.e. from 23.3 percent in 2017-18 to 41.7 percent in 2023-24, driven mainly by the rising participation of rural women.

(b): The Government is implementing Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) scheme and ICARCentral  Institute  for  Women  in  Agriculture  (ICAR-CIWA)    to  promote  adoption  of  new technologies of agriculture and allied sectors through technology assessment, demonstration  and  capacity  development  among  the  extension  functionaries  of  state governments  and  farmers  including  farm  women.  Under  the  SMAM  scheme,  women farmers  are  provided  subsidy on  agricultural  machinery.  States  have  been  instructed  to earmark 30% of SMAM funds for women for individual machinery ownership. Under ATMA Scheme,  at  least  30%  of  resources  are  earmarked  for  women  farmers  and  women extension workers.

(c): Department  of  Land  Recourses,  Ministry  of  Rural  Development  has  recently addressed all States to introduce a column for Gender in the Record of Rights. This step will  help  to  know  the  number  of  women  land  owners.  Pradhan  Mantri  Fasal  Bima  Yojna (PMFBY) provides for comprehensive risk insurance against crop damage from pre-sowing to post-harvest for crops and area notified by the concerned State Government . All willing farmers, including sharecroppers, tenant and women farmers are eligible to enrol under the scheme. The government is implementing the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) across various States and UTs. This scheme aims to provide concessional interest rates on short-term agricultural loans obtained by farmers through Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) for their working  capital  requirements.  Under  this  scheme,  farmers  (including  women  farmers) receive KCC loans at a subsidized interest rate of 7%. Additionally, farmers who repay their loans promptly receive  a 3% Prompt Repayment Incentive (PRI), effectively reducing the interest rate to 4% per annum.

(d): To commemorate the International Year of Women Farmers 2026, Indian Council of Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  is  organizing  Global  Conference  on  Women  in  Agri-Food Systems (GCWAS-2026) in New Delhi from 12-14 March, 2026 to bring together different stakeholders  to  share  and  showcase  experiences,  case  studies  and  inspiring  success stories  of  women's  empowerment  and  leadership  in  agriculture;  identify  and  promote national and global best practices for nurturing women's leadership and discuss measures for strengthening the policy framework for mainstreaming gender.

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