Corteva's #2MillionWomen Initiative Empowers Rural Women in India

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Thursday, 15 October 2026

Two years after launching its #2MillionWomen initiative, Corteva Agriscience, is seeing progress in its efforts to strengthen women’s participation in agriculture. The initiative is built on the belief that empowering women contributes to the growth and development of the agricultural sector.

Across rural India, women are improving their livelihoods by adopting modern farming practices, establishing enterprises and taking on leadership responsibilities. Their growing participation is helping strengthen local communities and create opportunities across the agricultural value chain.

Launched in September 2024, #2MillionWomen is a Corteva initiative that aims to empower women across India’s agricultural value chain by 2030. It is among the large-scale corporate initiatives focused on promoting women’s participation and leadership in agriculture.

Key Highlights:

• Corteva’s #2MillionWomen initiative has reached over 795,000 people across 22 Indian states
• More than 637,000 women have benefited, with nearly 49,000 serving as community leaders
• Women in Madhya Pradesh transformed Mahua flowers into nutrient-rich laddoos, building sustainable businesses and livelihoods

The program seeks to equip women with the skills, knowledge and opportunities needed to succeed as farmers, entrepreneurs and community leaders. Through these efforts, Corteva aims to support sustainable livelihoods and expand women’s role in India’s agricultural development.

They are helping to boost farm productivity. Accessing new markets Building stronger businesses increasingly taking on responsibility in their homes, communities and farmer organizations.

Many are becoming exemplary role models for other women. Others are helping to build up local institutions and help out and to create opportunities for future generations.

The women of Umaria district, Madhya Pradesh, have been harvesting Mahua flowers for generations to sell for a few cents or distilling into country liquor, and they were trapped in a vicious circle of poverty and social stigma.

The Farmers Producer Organization (FPO) formed by the women changed the story. The women became self-reliant entrepreneurs after changing their livelihood from selling liquor to making high quality TRIBO Mahua Laddoos, rich in nutrients, by processing these flowers.

More robust women are helping to create more sturdy families. Stronger farmer organizations. And stronger rural communities. The #The 2MillionWomen initiative has been successful at scale in rural India over the last 2 years. It has touched more than 795,000 people in 22 states, with more than 637,000 women. Almost 49,000 women are now leading and acting as community champions to effect change at grassroots level.