Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems 2026 Concludes in New Delhi
Conference calls for stronger global action to empower women in agriculture and announces a national gender platform linking 900 institutions.
The Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems (GCWAS–2026) concluded in New Delhi with a renewed global commitment to strengthen women’s leadership, participation and innovation in agriculture. The three-day conference brought together policymakers, scientists, development partners and women leaders from across the world to discuss gender-responsive policies and inclusive agricultural growth.
Addressing the valedictory session, Dr. M. L. Jat announced that Indian Council of Agricultural Research is developing a national gender platform connecting more than 900 institutions, including ICAR institutes, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and agricultural universities. The initiative aims to strengthen research, extension services and capacity-building programmes for women in agriculture.
Dr. Jat emphasized the need for stronger social science research and a gender-disaggregated data ecosystem to address existing gaps in agri-food value chains. He noted that empowering women with knowledge, data and leadership roles can significantly improve farm productivity and sustainability.
During the conference, Dr. Renu Swarup presented key recommendations and announced the adoption of the Delhi Declaration, which proposes establishing a Global Alliance on Women in Agri-Food Systems. The declaration calls for gender-responsive policies, improved access to land, finance, technology and markets, and stronger accountability mechanisms.
Experts highlighted that women contribute nearly 60–70 percent of agricultural labour, making their empowerment critical for food security and sustainable development.
The conference, inaugurated on March 12 by Droupadi Murmu, saw participation from experts and delegates from 18 countries, making it a significant global platform for advancing women’s empowerment in agriculture.
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