The Maharashtra Assembly has unanimously passed the Maharashtra Women Farmers Empowerment Bill, 2026, a landmark legislation aimed at extending economic and social security to women engaged in agriculture and allied sectors across the state.

Introduced by Agriculture Minister Datta Bharne, the bill received support from all parties in the House and is being hailed as a significant step towards formally recognising the contribution of women to the agricultural economy, irrespective of land ownership.

Land Ownership No Longer Required For Farmer Status

One of the most significant provisions of the legislation is the removal of land ownership as a prerequisite for recognition as a farmer.

Under the new law, any woman actively involved in farming activities will be eligible to be recognised as a “woman farmer”, even if the agricultural land on which she works is not registered in her name.

The move seeks to address a long-standing gap in the agricultural sector, where many women contribute substantially to farming operations but remain excluded from official records and benefits because they do not own land.

Wider Coverage For Allied Agricultural Activities

The legislation extends recognition beyond traditional crop cultivation and includes women involved in a range of allied sectors.

Beneficiaries will include women engaged in fisheries, animal husbandry, dairy farming, poultry farming and the collection of minor forest produce.

Until now, many women working in these sectors lacked formal recognition as farmers, limiting their access to government welfare schemes, financial assistance and institutional support.

Woman Farmer Certificates To Unlock Benefits

The legislation provides for the issuance of a Woman Farmer Certificate to eligible applicants. The certificate will serve as official proof of a woman’s status as a farmer.

Certificate holders will be able to access a range of benefits, including bank loans, crop insurance schemes, government subsidies, agricultural training programmes, modern farming technologies and direct market linkages.

The law also includes provisions aimed at preventing discrimination against women farmers and ensuring equal access to opportunities available within the agricultural sector.

Application Process Through Local Bodies

Women seeking recognition under the legislation will be able to submit applications through their local Gram Panchayat.

The Gram Sabha will be responsible for taking the final decision on applications. In cases where an application is rejected, authorities must provide clear and valid reasons for the decision.

For women residing in areas governed by urban local bodies, applications will be considered by the general body of the concerned Nagar Panchayat.

Once an application is approved, the Woman Farmer Certificate must be issued within 15 days.

Support Mechanisms For Implementation

The legislation also empowers local bodies to identify eligible women agricultural workers who may not have applied independently and grant them recognition, ensuring that genuine beneficiaries are not left out of the system.

To support implementation, the Maharashtra government will establish dedicated support centres and grievance redressal mechanisms for women farmers.

The bill is being widely viewed as a transformative reform that formally acknowledges the contribution of women to agriculture and allied activities while opening new pathways for financial inclusion, institutional support and economic empowerment across rural and semi-urban Maharashtra.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store –  https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540 

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share