NEW DELHI: Thousands of women farmer activists from across India are set to converge in the national capital on September 30 for the All India Women Farmers’ Activists Conference, organised by the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.
The conference, scheduled to begin at 9:00 AM, will bring together women associated with farming and rural activities from different states, with a focus on recognising their contribution to agriculture, preserving traditional farming practices and strengthening the rural economy.
The announcement was made at a press conference addressed by Bharatiya Kisan Sangh All India General Secretary Mohini Mohan Mishra and All India Women’s Coordinator Manju Dixit. All India Vice President Sushila Vishnoi and All India Secretary Veena Satish were also present.
Women farmers at the centre of agriculture
The organisers said the conference will highlight the extensive role women play across India’s agricultural sector, from sowing and transplanting to harvesting, weed control, animal husbandry and farm management.
According to the organisers, women undertake a substantial share of agricultural work and have traditionally played a crucial role in preserving indigenous farming knowledge, maintaining seed diversity and supporting household and rural economies.
The conference aims to give greater recognition to women not merely as agricultural workers but as farmers, farm managers and decision-makers.
Outstanding women farmers to be honoured
A major feature of the conference will be the recognition of selected women farmers from across the country for their contribution to agriculture and the rural economy. The awardees will be recognised for work in key areas including:
- Cow-based organic and natural farming
- Conservation and diversity of indigenous seeds
- Animal husbandry and milk production
- Food processing and generation of rural employment
The organisers said these areas represent important avenues through which women are contributing to sustainable agriculture, rural livelihoods and local economies.
Push for recognition of women as farmers
The BKS said the conference assumes added significance in the context of the United Nations’ declaration of 2026 as the International Year of Women Farmers, according to the organisers.
The event is intended to draw attention to the contribution of women to agriculture while also highlighting the challenges they face in securing recognition as farmers.
The organisers said women have increasingly moved beyond traditional agricultural roles and are taking greater responsibility for farm management, production decisions and rural enterprises. The conference will therefore seek to strengthen recognition of women’s identity and status as farmers within society.
Focus on traditional and sustainable agriculture
The conference’s emphasis on indigenous seeds, natural farming, animal husbandry and food processing also reflects the organisers’ focus on strengthening traditional agricultural practices and rural livelihoods.
Women farmers have historically played an important role in preserving indigenous seeds and transferring agricultural knowledge between generations. The BKS said the conference will provide a platform to highlight such contributions and recognise women who have turned these practices into productive agricultural and rural enterprises.
Thousands expected to attend
According to the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, women farmer activists from states across the country will participate in the Delhi gathering.
The organisation said it has village-level committees across more than 60,000 villages and claims a membership of over 4.2 million, including approximately 700,000 active women farmer activists.
The scale of participation is expected to make the September 30 gathering a significant national platform for women associated with agriculture.
The conference will bring together women working across different areas of farming and allied activities, providing an opportunity to discuss their experiences and showcase successful models of agricultural and rural entrepreneurship.
A national spotlight on women in farming
The Delhi conference comes at a time when the contribution of women to India’s agricultural economy is receiving increased attention.
From working in fields and managing livestock to preserving seeds and processing food, women remain deeply involved in India’s rural economy. Yet the organisers argue that their role often does not receive corresponding recognition in society.
The All India Women Farmers’ Activists Conference seeks to put that contribution at the centre of the national conversation.
With thousands of women farmers expected to gather at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on September 30, the event will combine recognition of outstanding agricultural work with a broader call for greater social recognition of women as farmers.
