Women Farmers Empowerment Bill introduced in Maharashtra

The State Government on Wednesday introduced the Maharashtra Women Farmers Empowerment Bill, 2026, to provide recognition to the women involved in farming and allied activities, irrespective of whether they own land, so that they get access to various welfare schemes.

Introduced by Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne in the legislative assembly, it provides for the creation of a database of women farmers and a state fund for them, among other things. 

The bill seeks to accord legal recognition to women engaged in agriculture and allied activities as farmers, irrespective of land ownership, enabling them to access government welfare schemes, institutional credit, subsidies and agricultural extension services.

It aims to address the long-standing exclusion of women working in agriculture, particularly landless cultivators and those engaged in sectors such as dairy, fisheries, poultry, animal husbandry, sericulture, apiculture and collection of minor forest produce.

“The systemic non-recognition of women farmers and their agricultural labour is significant and leads to other forms of exclusion and discrimination,” Bharne said.