Dr. Soumya Swaminathan advocates for a fundamental shift in agricultural policy, driven by the feminization of farming. Because men migrate to cities, women perform over 50% of agricultural work but hold only 15% of land titles. She stresses the need for legal identity, land rights, and equal access to schemes.
Dr. Swaminathan’s Core Arguments
- Legal Recognition Without Land: Women farmers often remain invisible on paper, meaning they cannot independently secure bank loans, subsidies, or agricultural inputs.
- Work-Based Definition: Dr. Swaminathan pushes to shift the legal definition of a farmer from “landowner” to “agricultural laborer and producer,” enabling women who work the fields to get rightful entitlements.
- Equal Scheme Access: Equalizing access to water, fair market prices, and credit is essential for economic growth and climate resilience.
Policy Progress and Actions
- National Action: This advocacy aligns with the UN’s declaration of the International Year of the Woman Farmer, accompanied by the introduction of the National Commission for the Entitlements and Welfare of Women Farmers Bill, 2026 in the Rajya Sabha.
- State Implementation: Leading the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, Dr. Swaminathan has directly urged state governments to register women farmers. The Maharashtra Cabinet recently approved the Maharashtra Women Farmers Empowerment Bill, 2026, which proposes issuing “women farmer certificates” to grant landless women access to credit and subsidies.
- Broader Implications: Championing these rights directly addresses the structural barriers women face regarding land identity and access.
Would you like to know more about the specific entitlements proposed in the Maharashtra draft legislation or the ongoing national-level policy pushes for women in agriculture?
