President Droupadi Murmu to Inaugurate Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems Tomorrow

In a significant step towards recognising and empowering the role of women in agriculture, a three-day ‘Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems (GCWAS–2026)’ will be organised during 12–14 March 2026 at the Bharat Ratna C. Subramaniam Hall, ICAR Convention Centre, NASC, New Delhi. The conference will be formally inaugurated by the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu.

The inaugural session will feature the Hon’ble Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Ministry of Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, as the Guest of Honour. The Valedictory Session will be graced by the Hon’ble Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Annapurna Devi, as the Chief Guest.

This pivotal event is jointly organised by Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research, (CGIAR), and the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority (PPV&FRA). The conference has garnered widespread support, with over 15 national and international bodies participating as Co-organisers and Knowledge Partners and an equal number of sponsors.

Taking place during the UN-declared 'International Year for Women Farmers' in 2026, the conference theme, "Driving Progress, Attaining New Heights," is perfectly aligned with the global focus on women farmers. The event anticipates a diverse gathering of over 700 participants, including scientists, policymakers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, development professionals, women farmers, start-ups, and students from India and around the world. The primary goal is to deliberate on strengthening policy frameworks and ecosystems to mainstream gender participation and highlight the indispensable role of women in building sustainable and inclusive agri-food systems.

The conference is being curated under the esteemed guidance of Chief Patron Dr Raj S. Paroda, Chairman of TAAS, alongside Patrons Dr M.L. Jat, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR; Dr T. Mohapatra, Chairperson, PPV&FRA mand Dr Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director, CGIAR. The Conference Chair is Dr Renu Swarup, former Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India and Co-Chair is Dr Rajbir Singh, DDG (Ag. Extension), ICAR.

A stellar line-up of national and international thought leaders will address the conference. Eminent speakers include Dr Agnes Kalibata, Founder and Chair, Connect4Impact Advisory Group; Dr Bram Govaerts, Director General, CIMMYT; Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson, MSSRF; Dr Shakuntala H. Thilsted, World Food Prize Laureate, Dr Nitya Rao, Director, NISD, Norwich, UK, Dr Nicoline de Haan, Director of Gender and Youth Accelerator Platform, ILRI, Kenya, among many others.

The three-day programme is structured around a series of in-depth technical sessions. The conference will also host dedicated forums, including a Women Farmers’ Forum to address grassroots challenges and a Youth Forum to engage and network the next generation of agri-food leaders.

In conjunction with the discussions, an exhibition will showcase women-oriented technologies, interventions, and policies. The exhibition will also provide a vital platform for women-led entrepreneurs and start-ups to display their innovations and products.

The GCWAS–2026 aims to produce a set of actionable recommendations, compile global best practices, and outline a clear roadmap for the future. The outcomes are expected to significantly contribute to the development of gender-responsive policies, foster technological innovations, and promote truly inclusive agricultural development.