PRESIDENT INAUGURATED GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON THE RONE OF WOMEN IN AGRI-FOOD SYSTEM

PRESIDENT INAUGURATED GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON THE RONE OF WOMEN IN AGRI-FOOD SYSTEM

14-MARCH-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

DELHI--------------------------President Droupadi Murmu today (March 12, 2026) attended and addressed the inaugural session of the Global Conference on the Role of Women in Agri-Food Systems (GCWAS-2026) in New Delhi.

In her address on this occasion, the President stated that women play a pivotal role in all agricultural activities, including sowing, harvesting, processing, and transporting crops to the market. They toil tirelessly across various sectors, including fisheries, beekeeping, animal husbandry, the sustainable utilization of forest produce, and the operation of agro-based enterprises. Women make an invaluable contribution to the agricultural economy.

The President emphasized that girls constitute over 50 percent of the total student body in State Agricultural Universities, and in many universities, this figure exceeds 60 percent. These young women also demonstrate academic excellence. She underscored that it is the collective duty of the government, society, and all stakeholders within the agricultural sector to provide every possible form of support and encouragement to these promising young women, enabling them to assume leadership roles in the fields of agriculture and food production. She remarked that leadership is an inherent quality of motherhood; however, motherhood is often perceived as being confined solely within the four walls of the home. We must transcend this mindset and move forward in the direction of empowering women farmers to take on leadership roles.

The President noted that the United Nations has designated the year 2026 as the ‘International Year of the Woman Farmer.’ This declaration calls for collective action to address gender-based disparities within agri-food value chains and to promote leadership roles for women.

The President asserted that it is crucial to encourage women's leadership in agriculture, particularly within agri-food systems. She emphasized that India is advancing with the vision of women-led development. He stated that women should play a greater role in policy formulation, decision-making, and leadership positions within the agricultural sector. Increased participation of women at all levels in this field will foster agricultural growth that promotes gender equality.

The President remarked that women farmers should receive assistance regarding matters related to formal land ownership, technical knowledge, financial resources, and other support systems. He expressed satisfaction that, over the past decade, India has taken numerous steps to empower women in the agricultural sector. He noted that initiatives promoting women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) have played a pivotal role in advancing women's empowerment in agriculture.

The President observed that there is a global consensus on according equal importance to People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnership. He urged all stakeholders to accord special priority to gender equality in their deliberations and actions concerning the human dimension. He asserted that through the effective inclusion of both women and men in every sphere of activity—including agriculture—we will not only achieve the Sustainable Development Goals but also transform the Earth into a far more sensitive and harmonious place. He expressed confidence that the participants of this global conference would pave the way to accelerate progress and scale new heights.

GCWS-2026 is being jointly organized by the Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS), the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), and the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority (PPV&FRA). The three-day conference aims to deliberate on strengthening policy frameworks and ecosystems to mainstream gender participation, and to highlight the indispensable role of women in building sustainable and inclusive agri-food systems.