Syllabus: 

GS2: Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections of the population by the Centre and States and the Performance of these Schemes 

GS 2: Important International institutions

Context: Recently, the United Nations General Assembly has declared 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer.

More on the News

• The resolution of the International Year was passed by the UN General Assembly and it was co-sponsored by over 100 countries. 
• This initiative aims to highlight and strengthen the role of women in agriculture, promoting their empowerment and access to resources, technology, training and markets. 
• It also seeks to promote gender equality and empower women in agriculture, emphasizing the importance of rural and peasant women in supporting their families and economies.
• It is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality), by promoting gender equality and food security.
• The FAO is expected to play a key role in implementing the International Year of the Woman Farmer, collaborating with other UN entities.

United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) 

• Headquarters: Rome, Italy.
• The World Food Programme (WFP) is a part of the United Nations that works to end hunger and improve food security around the world.
• It is the world’s largest humanitarian agency focused on food aid and was established in 1961.
• WFP's efforts align with Sustainable Development Goal 2—to end hunger, achieve food security and better nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030.
• It works in over 120 countries, providing emergency food assistance and helping communities improve nutrition and become more resilient to future challenges.
• Funding: WFP relies entirely on voluntary donations from governments, businesses, and individual donors.
• The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has been active in India since 1963. Initially focused on food distribution, WFP shifted in the late 1980s toward technical support as India became self-sufficient in grains
• With support from the Government of India, the event brought together about 200 people from various fields over six months. They joined hands to discuss the challenges faced by women in agriculture.

Key Challenges faced by Women Farmers

• Land Ownership: Only 14% of landowners are women. According to the latest National Family Health Survey, female land ownership is even lower, at 8.3%. 
• Credit & Finance Access: The absence of land ownership among women farmers in India hinders their access to credit and financial institutions.
• Information & Technology Gaps: Regular access to information on agricultural planning and advisory is essential for farmers, but women have more limited access to technology, such as mobile phones. 
• Climate change: Climate change disproportionately affects women farmers by increasing their domestic responsibilities and elevating their exposure to agricultural risks. 

Way Forward: 

• Policy design and implementation must address the specific needs of women farmers. Gender-disaggregated data is essential to create targeted solutions ranging from redesigned farm tools to tailored financial services and credit access.
• Agri-value chains should prioritize women-led models by improving their access to finance, information, and support through self-help groups and collective networks.
• Provide affordable devices and agritech services in local languages for real-time weather, market updates, and farm advice.
• Integrate women's needs into climate-smart agricultural policies to enhance adaptive capacity.