Maharashtra to Issue Women Farmers Certificates, Recognizing Landless Agriculturalists

Maharashtra is set to commence issuing Women Farmers Certificates (WFCs) on October 2, under the newly enacted Women Farmer’s Empowerment Act 2026. These certificates will formally acknowledge women engaged in agriculture or allied activities as farmers, irrespective of land ownership. This initiative is expected to benefit lakhs of women who contribute significantly to agri-food systems, livestock, poultry, and fisheries but are often excluded from formal farmer definitions.

The move addresses the growing feminization of agriculture, where women increasingly manage agricultural lands as men seek non-farm employment. Despite their heightened responsibilities, these women frequently lack corresponding control, assets, or decision-making power. Without land titles, they face significant barriers in accessing crucial resources such as credit, water, technology, and extension services, essentially reducing them to laborers in the sector they sustain.

Nationally, women constitute nearly 60% of the agricultural workforce, as reported by the Periodic Labour Force Survey and the Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Ramnath Thakur, yet hold less than 15% of land titles. In Maharashtra specifically, 82% of the rural female workforce is involved in agriculture, but women possess only about 15.5% of operational farmland, highlighting the local relevance and urgency of this new legislation.

What to watch: The implementation and impact of WFCs on women farmers' access to resources.

Editor's note: Excellent summary that integrates local context, national statistics, and the specific legislative details provided in the source.

This article is AI-generated and fact-gated. Original reporting: Mongabay India