In the context of the UN International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026, critically evaluate the adequacy of India's institutional mechanisms (extension, SHGs, credit) in empowering women farmers.

The UN has declared 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer. Women are 59.8% of India's agricultural workforce (PLFS 2025) [1]. India's extension, SHG and credit systems now reach many women farmers. However, they serve women mainly as workers, not as farmers in their own right, so they are only partly adequate.

Strengths

• Extension: EEIs, SAMETIs and MANAGE spread awareness of schemes among women, with special focus on tribal women farmers. Women extension staff connect research with farmers [1].
• SHGs: DAY-NRLM has supported over 4.6 crore Mahila Kisans. Krishi Sakhis and Pashu Sakhis give them farm advice all year round [2].
• Credit: SHGs have accessed ₹12.18 lakh crore in bank credit and repay more than 98% of it. 50,548 Bank Sakhis help them deal with banks (Feb 2026) [2].
• Technology: NaMo Drone Didi is giving 15,000 drones to women's SHGs [2].

Limitations

• Ownership gap: Women operational holders farm only about 11.72% of operated area (Agriculture Census 2015-16) [3]. A woman without a land title finds it hard to get crop loans, insurance or subsidies.
• Split institutional route: Mahila Kisans are reached through the Ministry of Rural Development's SHGs [2]. They are mostly not registered as farmers in DA&FW's own extension and credit systems [1]. Group credit pays for livelihoods, not for investment in land.
• Event-centred extension: Mahila Kisan Diwas brings 50–100 women per venue but sets no targets for land, credit or income [1].
• Productivity cost: On farms of the same size, women-managed farms produce 24% less, mainly because women have less access to inputs. Women also earn 82 cents for every dollar men earn in farm wage work [4].
• Data deficit: In 40 of 46 countries reporting on SDG 5.a.1, men hold more land rights than women [5]. India's latest figures on women's share of operated land date from 2015-16, although the 11th Agriculture Census is under way [6].

The system works well for reach but not for ownership. India could close this gap in three ways:

• States can issue joint titles and update land records under the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005.
• SHG Mahila Kisans can be registered in DA&FW's credit and extension systems.
• The 11th Agriculture Census can publish land data by sex so that India can report on SDG 5.a.1.

FAO estimates that closing these gaps would add nearly USD 1 trillion to world GDP [4]. Turning visibility into ownership would make IYWF 2026 count for both SDG 5 (gender equality) and SDG 2 (zero hunger).