In recognition of the UN International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF 2026), a March 2026 compilation by the PIB Delhi highlights India’s comprehensive policy framework aimed at the economic and technological empowerment of rural women. With 80% of rural women engaged in agriculture and allied sectors, the government has transitioned from general support to targeted, gender-responsive interventions like the Namo Drone Didi Programme and the Krishi Sakhi para-extension model.
Central to this strategy is the Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems (GCWAS-2026), which established a roadmap for integrating women into climate-smart and high-value agricultural value chains. Backed by institutional giants like ICAR-CIWA, these initiatives have already facilitated over ₹1.01 lakh crore in direct transfers to women through PM-KISAN and established over 1,100 all-women Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).
Comprehensive List of Schemes and Programmes for Women Farmers
Direct Financial Support:
PM-KISAN: Provides ₹6,000 annually; ~25% of benefits (over ₹1.01 lakh crore since inception) go to women.
Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS): Ensures short-term credit via KCC at 7% interest, with a 1.5% subvention for lenders.
Infrastructure & Marketing:
Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF): 8,190 projects worth ₹2,377 crore sanctioned to women for post-harvest assets (as of Feb 2025).
Integrated Scheme for Agriculture Marketing (ISAM/AMI): Provides a 33.33% subsidy to women for building godowns and warehouses.
MIDH: Supports post-harvest management for perishable horticulture produce.
Technology & Innovation:
Namo Drone Didi: A ₹1,261 crore initiative to provide 15,000 drones to women SHGs for agricultural services.
Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM): Offers 50% assistance (up to ₹5 lakh) to women for drone purchases.
Livelihood Diversification:
DAY-NRLM: Flagship poverty alleviation program; disbursed over ₹11 lakh crore in credit to women SHGs.
National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM): Promotes scientific beekeeping for non-farm income.
Dalhan Aatmanirbharta Mission: Outlay of ₹11,440 crore; mandates that at least 20% of funds benefit women farmers.
Extension & Training:
Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP): Supported 4.62 crore women in adopting agro-ecological practices.
Krishi Sakhi Programme: Training 70,000 women as para-extension professionals to provide doorstep guidance.
ATMA & STRY: Focus on district-level technology transfer and short-term vocational training in dairy, fisheries, and horticulture.
What is a "Krishi Sakhi"? A Krishi Sakhi is a practicing woman farmer trained as a para-extension professional to serve as a "friend to farmers" at the grassroots level. They play a role in bridging the gap between scientific research and field implementation by providing doorstep guidance on Natural Farming and Soil Health Management. This model is supported by a joint initiative between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Rural Development to train 70,000 Krishi Sakhis to create a "ripple effect" of technology adoption. By leading awareness programs in Gram Panchayats and schools, Krishi Sakhis reflect growth in community-based extension services, ensuring that sustainable agricultural practices become a people-led movement.
Policy Relevance: Gender-Responsive Transformation in Rural India
Scaling Drudgery Reduction: The introduction of women-friendly tools (e.g., pedal-operated de-huskers, fertilizer trolleys) by ICAR-CIWA reflects growth in the government's commitment to reducing the physical labor burden on rural women.
Internalising Financial Sovereignty: The transition to 100% women-led FPOs in states like Odisha and Jharkhand plays a role in shifting women from being "laborers" to "entrepreneurs" with collective bargaining power.
Bypassing the Digital Divide: The Namo Drone Didi program is supported by the need to ensure women are not left behind in the 30% surge of AI and digital demand seen in other sectors.
Supporting "Viksit Bharat" Food Security: By training 2.58 crore women in agro-ecology, these programs contribute to the long-term goal of a climate-resilient and self-sufficient agricultural sector by 2047.
Leveraging Social Capital: Utilising the SHG-Bank Linkage model (as seen in DAY-NRLM) allows for the mechanical delivery of credit to marginalised groups, mirroring the "social licence" expectations for sustainable infrastructure.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How will the MoA&FW mechanically track the "income-doubling" impact of the 1,175 all-women FPOs compared to traditional, male-led agricultural cooperatives?
Follow the Full Compilation Here: Empowering Women Farmers in Agriculture - 23 March 2026
