Maharashtra to Issue Women Farmers Certificates, Redefining Agricultural Identity

On October 2, Maharashtra will launch the Women Farmers Certificates, a key provision of the Women Farmer’s Empowerment Act 2026 that recognises women working in crop, animal, poultry, fishery and related sectors as farmers, even if they do not own land. The legislation, drafted after extensive consultations with women farmers, NGOs, bankers and government officials, passed unanimously in both houses of the state legislature within ten months.

It expands the legal definition of a farmer, establishes a Women Farmer Empowerment Cell, a monitoring committee, and a statewide database to track certificate holders. The initiative is expected to unlock access to credit, insurance, subsidies and training that were previously linked to land titles. Proponents cite earlier projects in Vidarbha, where women’s collectives improved livelihoods and climate adaptation. However, officials stress that the certificate alone will not solve entrenched barriers without broader reforms to land governance and service delivery.