Second national convention of women farmers: Over 500 women farmers gather in Pune to demand land rights, fair wages

Seema Kulkarni, a core member of MAKAAM, said the theme of the gathering was “Organizing to realise the rights of women farmers.”

“Over the years, women’s collectives and movements have worked hard to claim what is rightfully ours—land, access to government support, fair wages, and recognition,” Kulkarni said. “We have achieved some wins, but large gaps remain in laws and policies that hold us back. Women in agriculture face deep-rooted violence—not just in their homes, but also from the system. Caste, class, and gender discrimination are all interconnected.”

“Many of us are landless and unrecognized, and our work is seen as free labour. We are tired of empty praise. We want action—equal wages, land rights, access to schemes, and protection from violence,” added Kulkarni.

She also highlighted the role women play in forest protection and sustainable farming. “Women have always played a central role in protecting forests and managing common lands. We believe in seed sovereignty, sustainable water use, and cooperation over competition. It’s time the government recognizes that farmers are not just landowners, but also the women working the fields with their bare hands.”

Dr. Vaishali Patil, also a core member of MAKAAM, said, “We demand that all women farmers—whether they own land or not—must be included in the government’s Farmers’ Registry under AgriStack. This should happen through gram sabhas, not from the top,” she said. “We assert our right to land because it is essential for our livelihood and food security. If land is taken for public use, it must be compensated with land—not money.”

Patil also called for awareness campaigns and incentives to register land in women’s names. She said proper implementation of existing laws is needed, especially for women agricultural workers. “Most agricultural workers are women and many are migrants. They need identity cards, safe workplaces, and access to healthcare, education, and social security,” she said.

She also demanded an increase in the number of workdays under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) to 200 days per year. The convention ended with a collective demand for policy change and better implementation of rights for women in agriculture.