KEEPING SEEDS, FEEDING FAMILIES: THE QUIET LABOUR OF WOMEN FARMERS

In a recent feature by the Indian Express, Dr. Mamata Pradhan, Research Coordinator at IFPRI, sheds light on the indispensable, yet often invisible role women play in sustaining India’s agrifood systems. Dr. Pradhan emphasizes that women farmers are the traditional custodians of seeds and the primary architects of household food security, yet they continue to face systemic barriers in accessing land, credit, and formal recognition. As we mark the International Year of the Woman Farmer (#IYWF), Dr. Pradhan argues that empowering these women is not just a matter of equity, but a necessity for building climate-resilient and nutrition-secure communities. By moving women from the "hidden workforce" to the center of agricultural policy, a goal at the heart of our ongoing work with Odisha’s Gender Responsive Cell, we can unlock the full potential of rural India.

Read the full article in the Indian Express here.