Editorial 1: Empowering women in agriculture for food security

Context

The International Year of the Woman Farmer (2026) must champion resilient agriculture and gender equality by empowering women in farming.

Introduction

The UN General Assembly has declared 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, with backing from over 100 co-sponsors. The resolution highlights women’s crucial role in global agriculture and brings attention to the challenges they face, such as limited property rights and restricted market access.

• The article presents key insights from a symposium on women in agriculture organised by the Royal Norwegian Embassy and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) in India, with support from the Government of India.
• It reflects discussions held over six months, involving 200 participants from diverse fields focused on the challenges faced by women in agriculture.
• Some findings are drawn from the ENACT project (Enhancing Climate Adaptation of Vulnerable Communities through Nature-based Solutions and Gender Transformative Approaches), implemented in Assam’s Nagaon district by the WFP and Government of Assam.
• The project empowers smallholder women farmers by improving access to climate-related information and helping them make informed decisions to boost climate resilience.
• Funded by the Government of Norway, the project supports its broader strategy to promote food self-sufficiency, strengthen women’s rights, and enhance their role in food production.

Ownership, control and access

Parameter	Details
Global Contribution	Women contribute to 60–80% of food production in developing countries and make up 39% of agricultural labour in South Asia.
India’s Workforce	80% of economically active women in India work in agriculture.
Land Ownership	Only 14% of landowners are women; NFHS data shows even lower ownership at 8.3%.
Key Challenges	– Limited land ownership restricts access to credit and financial institutions. – Poor access to technology (e.g., mobile phones) hinders advisory services. – These barriers reduce investment, technology use, and livelihood improvement.
Existing Support	– Microfinance/Self-Help Groups: Offer loans, but often inadequate for large investments.
Government Initiatives	– Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana: Skill building and resource access for women farmers. – Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation: Offers 50–80% subsidies for machinery. – National Food Security Mission: Allocates 30% of its budget for women farmers in several States/UTs.

Impact of Climate Change on Women Farmers

• Disproportionate burden: Climate change increases women farmers’ domestic workload and agricultural risks.
• Example: Nirmali Bora Hazarika from Roha village, Nagaon says, “Rapid weather changes affect our crops. The flood-resistant variety introduced by the project offers hope for a better harvest.”

Climate Adaptation through Women-Led Initiatives

Project/Initiative	Key Features
ENACT Project	– Empowers women farmers through climate adaptation models at village/community levels. – Reaches over 300 farmers in 17 villages of Nagaon, Assam.
Information Delivery	– Weekly agri-climate advisories sent via mobile phones. – Climate Adaptation Information Centres support learning via video conferencing and community meetings.
Technology Use	Combines technical expertise, information services, and social behaviour change for scalable impact.
Partnerships	Collaborates with: – State & district administrations (Agriculture Dept., Rural Livelihood Missions) – Meteorology & Environment Departments – Agricultural universities for climate-resilient crops

Strategies for Resilience and Sustainability

• Flood-resistant rice varieties are promoted to reduce climate-related losses.
• Livelihood diversification and market linkages help reduce reliance on single crops.
• Women’s groups are involved in community-based smart seed production.
• The project strengthens rural ecosystems by aligning solutions with local needs and capacities.

Conclusion

Policy design and implementation must address the specific needs of women farmers, guided by granular, gender-disaggregated data. Tailored solutions—ranging from improved farming tools to financial inclusion and credit practices—are essential. Strengthening agri-value chains led by and for women, along with enhancing their access to finance, information, and collective networks like self-help groups, is crucial. The designation of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer offers a timely opportunity to advance gender equality and resilient agricultural growth by recognising and empowering women’s vital role in food security, economic development, and sustainability.

Editorial 2: Tighten the process

Context

The Election Commission of India must promptly resolve valid issues related to voter rolls and ensure greater transparency.
                           

Introduction

Rahul Gandhi has raised serious concerns about the integrity of the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, pointing to unusual voter roll increases, suspicious turnout patterns after 5 p.m., and restricted access to polling CCTV footage. These issues, combined with questions about the appointment of Election Commissioners, highlight the urgent need for greater transparency and accountability in India’s electoral processes.

Concerns Raised by Rahul Gandhi on Maharashtra 2024 Assembly Elections

• Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, highlighted serious concerns about the conduct of elections, referencing the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections.
• Specific issues raised include:
  • An unusual surge in the number of voters listed in electoral rolls between the general and Assembly elections.
  • Higher voter turnout recorded after 5 p.m. on voting day.
  • The Centre’s amendment to the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, which restricts access to CCTV footageof polling.
• Gandhi also questioned the appointment process of Election Commissioners, criticizing the Union government for not implementing the 2023 Supreme Court judgment recommending the Chief Justice of India be part of the selection panel.
• While previous complaints about Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have been made by various parties (including BJP and Congress), most did not hold up under administrative and technological scrutiny.
• The Congress is now focusing on deeper, more fundamental electoral process issues that warrant separate examination.

Analysis of Voter Increase and Turnout Figures

• Voter Roll Increase:
  • Preliminary analysis by The Hindu reveals precedents of sharp voter roll increases before Assembly elections in States with closely timed general and Assembly elections.
  • Over 39 lakh new voters were added within six months after the general election before the Maharashtra Assembly polls in 2024.
  • Similar large increases were seen in 2014, indicating this surge may not be unprecedented.
  • However, adding nearly 4 million voters is substantial, prompting calls for the Election Commission of India (ECI) to release machine-readable electoral roll data for public verification.
• Turnout after 5 p.m.:
  • Allegations of abnormal turnout increases post 5 p.m. lack strong evidence.
  • Provisional turnout data, dependent on manual entry during elections, are not fully reliable.
  • ECI data shows no significant increase in Maharashtra’s voting after 5 p.m.
  • Final, accurate turnout figures (Form 17C) are released after a delay, making reliance on provisional numbers problematic.

Issues Around Transparency and Access to Election Data

• A key concern deserving ECI’s attention is the retention and accessibility of CCTV footage from polling stations.
• Political parties and their candidates should be given access to CCTV footage to investigate complaintseffectively.
• The electoral roll updating process must become more transparent and include opportunities for political party scrutiny and verification.
• Political parties should actively engage during the roll revision process rather than raising issues only after election results.
• Ultimately, the responsibility lies with the ECI to:
  • Enhance transparency in the entire electoral process.
  • Provide timely access to electoral rolls and retain CCTV footage for scrutiny by stakeholders.

Conclusion

Ensuring free and fair elections requires robust transparency and participation from all stakeholders. The Election Commission must proactively address concerns about voter roll updates, turnout data accuracy, and CCTV footage access. Political parties should engage actively during electoral preparations, while the government must implement reforms that strengthen the credibility and integrity of India’s democratic system.