Mumbai, July 2: The Maharashtra Assembly held a historic discussion on the ‘Maharashtra Women Farmers Empowerment Bill-2026’ on Thursday. Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar welcomed and supported the bill, describing it as a significant step towards providing justice, recognition, and rights to women farmers, who are considered the backbone of the state’s agricultural economy.
During the assembly debate, Deputy Chief Minister Pawar emphasized that Maharashtra has become the first state in India to introduce such legislation.
She stated that this bill is not merely a law; it represents historical justice for every woman farmer who nurtures our land and supports Maharashtra’s economy. This legislation is set to transform the lives of millions of women across the state.
Drawing inspiration from her background as a daughter of a farming family, the Deputy Chief Minister shared her personal experiences with the challenges of farming, the uncertainties of nature, and her close ties to rural life.
She highlighted that despite working shoulder to shoulder with men in various agricultural tasks—from sowing, animal husbandry, and dairy production to poultry farming, fishing, and post-harvest processes—women have historically never been recognized as official ‘farmers.’ Due to a lack of land ownership, women have long been deprived of various government benefits.
To address this gap, the Deputy Chief Minister explained a key feature of the new law. Under the ‘Maharashtra Women Farmers Empowerment Bill-2026,’ a woman’s actual participation in agriculture will be the primary criterion for issuing an official ‘Women Farmer Certificate,’ rather than land ownership.
She clarified that this certificate will ultimately provide millions of women with official recognition, facilitating their access to government agricultural schemes, training, crop insurance, institutional loans, market access, skill development, and entrepreneurial opportunities.
To ensure that the bill translates into meaningful action rather than remaining a mere declaration, a robust institutional framework will be established. This will include a dedicated women farmers database, a women farmers empowerment cell, special support officers, a state-level monitoring committee, and a dedicated women farmers fund.
Addressing potential concerns, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar assured the assembly that the bill does not alter, amend, or interfere with any existing land ownership, inheritance, or succession laws. Its sole aim is to provide legal and institutional recognition of women’s invaluable contributions to agriculture.
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