Women Farmers Central to Food Security: LG Sinha | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday said women farmers are central to food security and agricultural development, asserting that women-led development is a key priority under ongoing empowerment initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing the Women Farmers Conference organised by Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) in Srinagar, the Lieutenant Governor said the global food system is sustained by women’s labour, while also noting that they remain underrepresented in economic gains.

He called for the removal of barriers faced by women farmers and urged cooperatives and government stakeholders to ensure direct market access and greater participation of women in agricultural value chains.

Sinha said the Government is focusing on integrating women farmers into agriculture, horticulture, fisheries and dairy sectors through targeted schemes, technology support and financial inclusion measures.

He stated that 2026, declared by the United Nations as the International Year of Women Farmers, presents an opportunity to formally recognise women as key contributors to agricultural growth.

The Lieutenant Governor said Jammu and Kashmir is implementing multiple agriculture and allied sector programmes, with nearly 3.11 lakh women registered across various schemes. He cited participation under HADP, JKCIP, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi and other initiatives covering natural farming, horticulture, dairy, sheep farming, sericulture and fisheries.

He said women farmers are increasingly emerging as agri-entrepreneurs through self-help groups, farmer producer organisations and skill development initiatives in areas such as beekeeping, mushroom cultivation and food processing.

Sinha also called for expanding institutional support, including training centres, service facilities and mobile soil testing units for farmers in Jammu and Kashmir.

On the occasion, he announced that a mass movement for a drug-free Jammu and Kashmir in the Kashmir division will be launched from Srinagar on May 3, 2026, and urged public participation.

Women agri-entrepreneurs were felicitated during the event, which was attended by senior ministers, officials, agriculture experts, and representatives of IFFCO and farmer organisations.