Maharashtra assembly passes bill to recognise women farmers

The Maharashtra Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a bill aimed at recognising women farmers and establishing a framework to ensure their access to government welfare schemes, institutional credit, agricultural services, and Women Farmer identity cards. The Women Farmers Empowerment Bill, the first such proposed legislation in the country, seeks to acknowledge the contribution of women in farming by creating a dedicated fund to help women engaged in agriculture and provide special assistance for single female cultivators.

The Maharashtra Women Farmers Empowerment Bill, 2026 gives women farmers legal recognition, improving access to government schemes, loans, and benefits. A major step towards gender equality and farmer empowerment. #Maharashtra #WomenFarmerspic.twitter.com/0qollGEVRi

— Vasai Virar Update (@vasaivirarinfra) July 2, 2026

The bill notes that despite working alongside men from sowing to harvesting and participating in allied activities such as dairy farming and livestock rearing, women have largely remained excluded from institutional benefits because agricultural land is usually registered in the names of male family members, said Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharane.