International Women's Day (IWD), celebrated annually on March 8, serves as a global platform to honor the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The 2025 theme, "For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment." calls for action to unlock equal rights, power, and opportunities for all, envisioning a feminist future where no one is left behind. Central to this vision is empowering the next generation—particularly young women and adolescent girls—as catalysts for lasting change.
A key area where this empowerment is crucial is agriculture, where millions of women contribute significantly yet often remain unrecognized and under-supported. Providing women with access to resources, training, and financial independence is crucial for achieving true gender equality in agriculture.
Role of Women in Indian Agriculture
Women constitute a significant portion of India's agricultural workforce, engaging in activities ranging from sowing and harvesting to post-harvest processing. Despite their substantial contributions, they frequently encounter issues such as limited access to land ownership, credit facilities, training, and technology. These challenges not only affect their productivity but also their socio-economic status.
Recognizing their indispensable contribution, the Indian government has introduced several schemes aimed at empowering women farmers, enhancing their skills, providing financial assistance, and integrating them into modern agricultural practices. As we approach International Women's Day 2025, it is important to recognize the initiatives transforming the landscape for women in agriculture
Namo Drone Didi Scheme
Introduced in November 2023, the Namo Drone Didi Scheme is an innovative initiative designed to integrate women into modern agricultural practices. The scheme focuses on training women in operating drones for agricultural purposes, such as monitoring crop health, assessing irrigation needs, and applying fertilizers and pesticides efficiently.
With a budget allocation of Rs 1,261 crores, drones are being provided to 15,000 women self-help groups through Krishi Vigyan Kendras across the country. This scheme empowers women with advanced technological skills, positioning them as key stakeholders in the agricultural supply chain and improving their socio-economic status."
Lakhpati Didi Scheme
The Lakhpati Didi Scheme is a significant initiative aimed at ensuring that women involved in self-help groups (SHGs) achieve a sustainable annual income of at least Rs 1 lakh. Initially targeting 2 crore women, the program has been scaled up to cover 3 crore women.
As of 2025, approximately 83 lakh SHGs have been formed, encompassing 9 crore women who are gradually transforming the rural socio-economic scenario through empowerment and self-reliance. This scheme encourages women to engage in various income-generating activities, including agriculture, thereby improving their financial stability and decision-making power within their households and communities.
Stand-Up India
Launched on April 5, 2016, the Stand-Up India scheme aims to promote entrepreneurship among women and marginalized communities, including Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). The scheme facilitates bank loans ranging from Rs 10 lakhs to Rs 1 crore for setting up greenfield enterprises in manufacturing, trading, or services sectors.
By providing financial support and encouraging entrepreneurial ventures, Stand-Up India empowers women to establish agribusinesses, agro-processing units, and other agriculture-related enterprises, thereby enhancing their economic participation and leadership in the agricultural sector.
PM-KISAN Scheme
Launched in 2019, the PM-KISAN scheme provides Rs 6,000 annually in three installments through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to small and marginal farmers, including women. Recently, on February 24, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 19th installment, benefiting 9.8 crore farmers, including 2.41 crore women.
This financial aid helps women farmers invest in seeds, fertilizers, machinery, and other agricultural inputs, enhancing productivity and economic stability. By linking payments to Aadhaar, the scheme also ensures financial inclusion and access to credit. PM-KISAN continues to empower women in agriculture, fostering self-reliance and rural prosperity.
PM-KUSUM Scheme
The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) Yojana, launched in March 2019, aims to provide energy security to farmers by promoting the use of solar energy in agriculture. The scheme includes the installation of grid-connected solar power plants, standalone solar pumps, and the solarization of existing grid-connected agricultural pumps.
Women farmers benefit from this initiative by reducing their dependence on diesel for irrigation, lowering operational costs, and generating additional income by selling surplus solar power. This scheme not only promotes sustainable agricultural practices but also empowers women by integrating them into the renewable energy sector.
Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme: Collateral-free Loan
In response to the financial challenges faced by small and marginal farmers, the government has increased the collateral-free loan limit under the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme from Rs 1.6 lakh to Rs 2 lakh. This move allows women farmers greater access to institutional credit without requiring collateral, enabling them to invest in modern farming equipment, high-quality seeds, and better irrigation facilities. The enhanced credit support fosters entrepreneurship among women farmers and strengthens their financial resilience.
Additionally, the Budget for 2025-26 announced an increase in the loan limit under the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme for KCC from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh, thereby further benefiting farmers.
Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)
Launched under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), the Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) aims to empower women farmers by enhancing their participation in agriculture through capacity building, training in sustainable farming practices, and improved access to resources and markets.
The scheme promotes women-led farmer producer organizations (FPOs), self-help groups (SHGs), and financial support initiatives to strengthen their role in agriculture. By focusing on organic farming, agroforestry, and climate-resilient techniques, MKSP helps women transition from subsistence farming to profitable, sustainable agricultural activities, improving their income, leadership, and decision-making abilities.
On International Women's Day, it is essential to recognize and celebrate the contributions of women farmers to India's agricultural sector. While government schemes have played a significant role in empowering them, challenges such as financial constraints, limited access to technology, lack of awareness, and restricted market opportunities persist.
Strengthening policy implementation and addressing these barriers can ensure that women farmers receive the recognition, support, and resources they deserve. Building an inclusive and sustainable agricultural ecosystem will not only uplift women but also drive the overall growth and resilience of India’s agrarian economy.
