UN Declares 2026 as International Year of the Woman Farmer
UN declared 2026 as International Year of the Woman Farmer; India highlighted schemes like Namo Drone Didi and Lakhpati Didi.
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Key Points for RAS
- The United Nations declared 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer
- In India, about 80% of rural women are engaged in agriculture and handle roughly 70% of farm tasks, yet only 13.9% of agricultural landholdings are in women's names
- Namo Drone Didi Scheme provides 80% subsidy for agricultural drones to train rural women as tech-entrepreneurs
- Lakhpati Didi initiative aims to create 6 crore women earning over one lakh rupees annually through Self Help Groups
- Women constitute 43% of STEM graduates in India
The United Nations declared 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, recognising the critical role of women in agriculture and food security worldwide. In India, about 80% of rural women are engaged in agriculture and handle roughly 70% of farm tasks, yet only 13.9% of agricultural landholdings are registered in women's names. The Indian government has launched targeted schemes including the Namo Drone Didi Scheme (providing 80% subsidy for agricultural drones to train rural women as tech-entrepreneurs) and the Lakhpati Didi initiative (aiming to create 6 crore women earning over one lakh rupees annually through Self Help Groups). Women constitute 43% of STEM graduates in India.
Frequently Asked Questions
1 What did the UN declare 2026 as and what are the key statistics about women in India's agriculture?
The United Nations declared 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer. In India, ~80% of rural women are engaged in agriculture and handle ~70% of farm tasks, yet only 13.9% of agricultural landholdings are registered in women's names.
2 What is the Namo Drone Didi Scheme and how does it support women farmers in India?
The Namo Drone Didi Scheme provides an 80% subsidy for agricultural drones to train rural women as tech-entrepreneurs. It was launched as part of India's response to the UN's International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026, aiming to empower rural women through technology.
3 What is the Lakhpati Didi initiative and what is its target for women's income?
The Lakhpati Didi initiative aims to create 6 crore women earning over one lakh rupees (₹1 lakh) annually through Self Help Groups (SHGs). It is part of India's efforts to empower women farmers, aligned with the UN's declaration of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer.
4 What percentage of women are STEM graduates in India as highlighted in the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026?
Women constitute 43% of STEM graduates in India, as highlighted in the context of the UN's declaration of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer. India has also launched the Namo Drone Didi Scheme and Lakhpati Didi to further empower women in agriculture and technology.
5 Why is only 13.9% of agricultural land in India registered in women's names despite their large role in farming?
Despite ~80% of rural women engaged in agriculture handling ~70% of farm tasks, only 13.9% of agricultural landholdings are registered in women's names in India. This disparity was highlighted when the UN declared 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, prompting schemes like Namo Drone Didi and Lakhpati Didi to address gender gaps.
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