New Delhi, 12 March (H.S.): President Droupadi Murmu called for greater female participation in agricultural policymaking, decision-making, and leadership, emphasizing women's pivotal role across farming activities from sowing to marketing.

Inaugurating the Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems (GCWAS-2026), Murmu highlighted women's contributions to fisheries, beekeeping, livestock, forest products, and agri-enterprises, strengthening the rural economy.She noted over 50% female enrollment in state agricultural universities and 60% elsewhere, with stellar academic records, urging stakeholders to nurture these talents for future leadership.

Murmu linked maternal instinct to inherent leadership often confined domestically, advocating its extension to agriculture amid the UN-declared 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer, aimed at bridging gender gaps in agri-food chains.Access to land titles, technology, finance, and support systems remains crucial; India’s initiatives like women-led SHGs and FPOs have proven effective.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan echoed that women dominate every farm stage, with ICAR soon launching a gender platform to accelerate women-centric research nationwide.

The three-day conclave, jointly hosted by Agricultural Science Uplift Trust, ICAR, CGIAR, and PPV&FR Authority, focuses mainstreaming women's roles and fortifying policy frameworks.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar