March 16, 2026 : The Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems (GCWAS–2026) concluded in New Delhi with a renewed international commitment to strengthening women’s leadership, participation and innovation across agriculture and agri-food systems. The three-day conference brought together policymakers, scientists and development leaders from several countries to deliberate on gender-responsive policies, inclusive innovations and sustainable agricultural development.
Addressing the valedictory session, M. L. Jat, Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education and Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), said the conference should mark the beginning of stronger collective action rather than the end of discussions. He announced that ICAR is developing a national gender platform to connect more than 900 institutions, including ICAR institutes, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and agricultural universities. The platform aims to strengthen research, extension and capacity-building initiatives focused on women in agriculture. He noted that empowering women with knowledge, data and decision-making roles can significantly improve farm productivity, profitability and sustainability.
Former Biotechnology Secretary Renu Swarup presented the conference recommendations and announced the adoption of the Delhi Declaration, which calls for the creation of a Global Alliance on Women in Agri-Food Systems. The declaration urges stakeholders to promote gender-responsive policies, expand women’s access to land, finance, technology and markets, and strengthen leadership and entrepreneurship among women farmers and agri-business leaders. It also highlights the need for gender-responsive budgeting, systematic collection of gender-disaggregated data and stronger accountability through periodic gender audits.
R. S. Paroda, Chairman of the Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS), said empowering farm women must move beyond dialogue and translate into concrete institutional support and policy action. He pointed out that women contribute nearly 60 to 70 per cent of the agricultural labour force and ensuring their access to knowledge, markets, credit and training is essential for food security and poverty reduction.
Trilochan Mohapatra, Chairman of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPV&FRA), highlighted the often overlooked role of women in conserving plant genetic resources and biodiversity. He stressed the need for stronger support to identify and empower such grassroots custodians.
Earlier, Rajbir Singh, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension) at ICAR, said empowering women farmers is vital for sustainable agricultural growth, food security and rural prosperity. He noted that women play a significant role across the agri-food value chain and their leadership is crucial for building resilient food systems.
The conference included nine thematic technical sessions that covered gender equality and social inclusion, women’s leadership in the agri-food sector, emerging technologies for gender-transformative change, economic inclusion, policy and market access, and youth engagement. Discussions focused on strengthening women’s leadership, improving access to resources and markets, promoting technology adoption and encouraging the next generation of agri-food leaders.
Experts from 18 countries participated in the conference, including Bram Govaerts, Agnes Kalibata, Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted, Julie Borlaug, Maureen Miruka, Josephine Okot and Nitya Rao.
Participants also proposed several recommendations, such as promoting women’s leadership in science and policy, strengthening women’s economic empowerment through improved access to credit and markets, simplifying regulatory processes in seed value chains and encouraging women-led enterprises. They also stressed integrating agriculture with nutrition, health and environmental sustainability under the One Health framework, bridging the digital divide through localized advisory platforms and expanding climate-resilient agricultural practices.
The conference, inaugurated on March 12 by President Droupadi Murmu in the presence of Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, highlighted India’s commitment to strengthening the role of women in agriculture and food systems. Organisers said the outcomes of GCWAS–2026 are expected to strengthen global partnerships, guide future policy directions and accelerate efforts to empower women farmers, scientists and agri-entrepreneurs worldwide.
