The representation of women and gender parity in all spheres is critical for overall growth and success for meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Unless there is equal representation, we will not be able to achieve our desired goals.

To meet our agricultural growth targets, the full participation of women is essential. Women are active in every aspect of agricultural development, from research to industry and farming, contributing to increased productivity and production. However, their numbers are often small, especially in decision-making roles, leading to a clear absence of gender balance. To meet our agricultural growth targets, therefore, full participation of women cannot be overlooked.

It is unequivocally agreed that women's empowerment is key to strengthening their participation in decision-making, which is crucial for socio-economic development. Research has shown that empowering women accelerates a country's economic growth.

While we focus on empowering women in leadership, we cannot lose sight of their important role at the grassroots level. To build effective women leaders, implement gender-sensitive policies, and achieve progressive outcomes, we must nurture women leaders and empower women at the grassroots level, both technologically and socially for promoting diverse agri-food systems.

The Global Conference on Women in Agriculture organized in 2012, brought together a large number of women who shared their success stories and examples of their major role in agricultural development through new technologies, research, extension services, and industry activities.

There is need for a greater focus now on sharing experiences and success stories of women leaders, entrepreneurs and farmers for promoting diverse agri-food systems and developing enabling policies to make it happen.

The declaration of 2026 as the International Year of Women Farmers by the United Nations serves as a global milestone that can spark policy reforms, public awareness campaigns, and international collaboration, while also providing an opportunity to mobilize resources, forge partnerships, and create a shared agenda for advancing women's role in agriculture. Access to modern agricultural technologies, training programs, and digital tools can further improve women's efficiency, increase their incomes, and strengthen their decision-making power, with digital platforms offering ways to amplify their voices and link them to broader markets.

The 2012 Global Conference demonstrated the power of collective dialogue and multi-stakeholder engagement. Building on this legacy, the renewed platform in New Delhi aims to translate commitments into measurable outcomes by encouraging evidence-based action, policy innovation, and implementation-oriented collaboration. This edition will serve as a hub for presenting transformative initiatives, evaluating real-world impact, and identifying pathways that have successfully elevated women’s roles across agricultural value chains.

At the community level, strengthening institutional mechanisms and enhancing women’s leadership capacities remain crucial. Tailored capacity-building efforts, improved access to extension services, and inclusive market linkages can help women farmers transition from local contributors to key decision-makers. Cooperative models, women-led FPOs, and dynamic SHGs can collectively negotiate better opportunities, widen access to credit, and ensure equal participation in emerging agri-business ecosystems.

The Global Conference will therefore focus on charting a forward-looking agenda that establishes clear benchmarks, facilitates policy alignment, and promotes accountability for advancing gender-responsive agricultural transformation.