In a powerful call to action, President Droupadi Murmu graced the inaugural session of the Global Conference on Women in Agri-food Systems (GCWAS-2026), urging greater inclusion of women in policy formulation, decision-making, and leadership roles within agriculture.
Highlighting their tireless contributions, the President noted that women are the backbone of farming—from sowing seeds and harvesting crops to processing produce, transporting goods to markets, and excelling in fisheries, beekeeping, animal husbandry, forest resource management, and agri-based enterprises. “Their invaluable role drives the agricultural economy forward,” she affirmed.
Jointly organized by the Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), and Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPV&FRA), this three-day summit in New Delhi seeks to fortify policy frameworks and ecosystems. The goal? Mainstream gender participation and spotlight women’s indispensable contributions to sustainable, inclusive agri-food systems.
As India pushes for agricultural transformation, empowering women could redefine global food security. A timely reminder: true progress tills the soil of equality.
