India’s agri-food systems, including agriculture, livestock, agroforestry, and fisheries, are heavily dependent on both paid and unpaid labor of women. Women are vital to Indian agriculture, playing a vital role in food production, livestock management, and supporting rural economies. Women account for nearly 75% of the full-time rural workforce and account for 33% of cultivators. Their participation is spread across a variety of activities such as sowing, weeding, harvesting, post-harvest processing, dairy farming, and livestock care. Despite their essential contribution, land ownership remains a challenge, with only 12-13% of women farmers owning land. However, advances in digital technologies and small initiatives are helping to reduce the gender gap in agriculture, empowering women to become more independent, financially stable, and influential in decision-making. To further scale their impact, it will be important to increase digital literacy, improve access to smartphones, and provide policy support.
Digital technology and microinterventions have transformed the landscape for women in Indian agriculture. These innovations have enabled women farmers to break traditional barriers related to land ownership, access to markets, financial inclusion, and knowledge sharing. Digital tools are empowering women in agriculture. Apps and helplines provide real-time weather forecasts, optimal farming techniques, and current market prices. Resources such as Kisan Suvidha, Pusa Krishi, and IFFCO Kisan App help women farmers make well-informed choices. WhatsApp groups and YouTube tutorials facilitate peer learning and knowledge exchange. Digital payment systems, including UPI, digital wallets, and online banking, enable women to secure loans and subsidies directly. Kisan credit cards and digital microfinance platforms, such as Paytm and NABARD’s e-Shakti, provide financial support to women-led self-help groups. Platforms such as e-NAM (National Agriculture Market) and Agribazaar allow women farmers to sell their produce directly to consumers, eliminating the need for intermediaries.
Women-led cooperatives are using Facebook and Instagram to promote their organic farming products. AI technologies provide valuable information on soil health, pest detection, and precision farming techniques. Advanced irrigation systems and solar-powered pumps are designed to reduce water use and ease the physical workload of women farmers. Members of self-help groups benefit from group credit, training, and access to agricultural resources. The Deccan Development Society in Telangana supports millet cultivation through these women-led cooperatives. Simple agricultural equipment such as seed sowers, hand-operated tractors, and solar dryers is available to help reduce the burden on women.
Government initiatives provide subsidies for mechanized equipment, which is beneficial for women. NGOs and government programs such as the Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana provide the necessary skill training. Digital literacy initiatives empower women farmers to adopt new technological solutions. Women are increasingly getting involved in organic farming, permaculture, and climate-smart agricultural practices. Small-scale interventions such as vermicomposting pits, rooftop gardens, and agroforestry contribute to sustainable incomes. The Lakhpati Kisan initiative by Tata Trusts has trained tribal women in Jharkhand in agricultural technology and e-commerce. The Digital Green initiative uses videos to educate rural women about better farming practices. Farmer production organizations (FPOs) such as Vaagdhara help women collectively negotiate better prices.
In today’s world, digital technology and small interventions are playing a vital role in empowering women in agriculture. Traditionally, women have been tasked with labor-intensive and time-consuming tasks such as weeding, threshing, and de-hulking. However, mechanization helps lighten their workload, allowing them to engage in more valuable agricultural activities. Digital tools, including mobile apps, helplines, and advisory services, provide women with up-to-date market and weather information, which aids in better crop planning and resource management. Many women face challenges in accessing credit and financial resources, which limits their ability to invest in modern agricultural techniques.
Fortunately, digital payment systems and e-commerce platforms enable women such as fish vendors and farmers to transact independently, reducing their dependence on intermediaries. By equipping women with the skills to operate agricultural machinery, these small interventions challenge ingrained gender biases and empower women to take leadership roles in farming. Access to information and technology enhances women’s ability to overcome traditional barriers and assert their independence.
Many women in rural areas struggle with digital literacy, which hinders their ability to effectively use mobile applications and online services. The situation is further worsened by limited access to smartphones and unreliable internet connections. Social norms continue to restrict women’s participation in decision-making processes. Investment at the household level often focuses on technologies that primarily benefit men, neglecting women’s unique needs. Additionally, government policies and agricultural extension services often ignore gender-specific issues. Only 13% of rural women own land, so their access to credit and agricultural programs is very limited.
Increased mechanization in agriculture and fisheries has led to women losing jobs, pushing them into more unstable and informal employment. The growing dominance of large buyers and export traders in fish markets has marginalized small-scale women vendors, restricting their access to fish supplies and fair prices. Although mobile applications, online marketplaces, and digital payment systems offer new opportunities, many rural women still face barriers due to lack of smartphones, internet access, and digital skills. The report revealed that only 31% of rural women in India own smartphones, while the figure for men is 51%. To bridge this gap, government initiatives can provide subsidies for smartphones for women farmers.
Additionally, it is important to incorporate digital literacy training in self-help groups. What do you think has a greater impact in limiting women’s access to technology: financial barriers or social norms? Small-scale solutions like solar pumps, digital payment systems, and microloans can bring immediate, significant improvements. On the other hand, broader reforms like land rights and the adoption of agritech will require policy changes and take more time. In Odisha, the “Mission Shakti” initiative has successfully educated thousands of women in financial literacy and digital transactions.
However, the e-NAM platform, India’s digital agriculture marketplace, still struggles with low female participation due to land ownership challenges. Which strategy do you find more effective for empowering women: targeted, small-scale interventions or broader systemic reforms? Several women-led agritech startups are making significant progress in this area. For example, Apurva B.K. Kamal Kisan, founded by, provides affordable agricultural equipment for small-scale farmers, while Farmizen connects women farmers directly to urban consumers through an organic farm-to-table model. Should the government consider providing dedicated funds for women-led agritech ventures?
A collaborative approach that combines government policies, community initiatives, and private sector innovation is critical to ensure that women farmers in India have equal access to technology.
