Maharashtra Introduces Women Farmer Empowerment Bill

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Thursday, 2 July 2026

The Maharashtra state government has formulated the Maharashtra Women Farmer Empowerment Bill, 2026, in order to make an official acknowledgment of those women who work in the field of agriculture by issuing certificates of woman farmers.

In an attempt to enhance the acknowledgment of the role women play in the field of agriculture, the bill categorizes all women residing in Maharashtra and practicing farming in whatever way, irrespective of the nature of the land they farm, as farmers. The legislation will help these women in getting the benefit of the welfare scheme provided by the government to the farming community.

The state government of Maharashtra took a landmark decision on Wednesday as it presented a bill to create a system of acknowledging woman farmers in the state. As part of the bill, women farmers would be issued with certificates which will help them to benefit from various welfare schemes and empower themselves economically.

The purpose of this provision is to recognize the role of women in farming and help them benefit from the policy and welfare programs.

“The agricultural policies, schemes, and extension systems are largely gender-neutral. However, the requirement of land ownership as a precondition for access to most agricultural schemes and underlying entitlements has rendered such schemes inaccessible to many women farmers, since only a very small percentage of these women own agricultural land,” said the statement of objects and reasons for the bill.

Key Highlights:

• Maharashtra bill grants legal recognition to women farmers across the state
• Woman Farmer Certificates to unlock welfare schemes, subsidies and institutional credit
• Bill proposes empowerment council, fund and statewide women farmers database

A significant aspect of this bill expands the legal meaning of the term “farmer” to encompass all women residing in Maharashtra who work in farming, regardless of what type of land she tills.

Aside from traditional agriculture, the framework acknowledges women who work in agricultural innovation and sustainable agriculture. These include preserving and cultivating seeds, taking care of livestock and fisheries, practicing climate-resistant farming, engaging in integrated farming, and increasing economic value by processing farm products before selling them into the market.

As per the new bill, there has been a long-existing problem where women who were working in agriculture without holding title papers are considered to be workers under agriculture. Therefore, such women are deprived of many schemes that are designed for the benefit of farmers.

“Similarly, women who are engaged in allied non-cultivation-based activities such as fishing, collection of minor forest produce, poultry, animal husbandry, etc., are also not recognised as farmers. This systemic non-recognition of women farmers and their agricultural labour is significant and leads to other forms of exclusion, including, but not limited to discrimination in access to schemes, credit and markets,” it said.

In order to promote financial inclusion and policy outreach, this bill suggests the issuance of Woman Farmer Certificates, which will make it easier for women farmers to avail themselves of welfare measures, subsidies, public facilities, institutional credit, and many other legal rights. This bill further details the creation of a Women Farmer Empowerment Council and Cell, a State Monitoring Committee, a Women Farmers Fund, and an all-State database system.