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Maharashtra Women Farmers Bill 2026: Legal Recognition, Digital Access and a Voice for 81% of the Workforce

Digital system  for women farmers to access: state loans, subsidies, seeds, fertilisers, crop insurance, market facilities.

  • Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana  – central crop insurance scheme.

  • Proposed  Maharashtra State Women Farmers Fund  and  State-Level Monitoring Committee  headed by  Chief Secretary .

  • Agriculture is a  State List  subject under the  Seventh Schedule  of the Constitution of India.

  • Allied agricultural activities recognised: animal husbandry, fisheries, horticulture.

  • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

    Q1: Why is the Maharashtra Women Farmers Empowerment Bill needed?
    A: Because over 81% of the agricultural workforce in Maharashtra are women, but most agricultural benefits are linked to land ownership, which women rarely have. This leaves them without access to loans, subsidies, and insurance.

    Q2: Who will be recognised as a farmer under the new Bill?
    A: The Bill proposes a broader definition that includes landowners, women in animal husbandry, fisheries, and horticulture, as well as landless farmers, tenant cultivators, farm labourers, and migrant workers.

    Q3: What benefits will women farmers get under this Bill?
    A: They will be able to access state loan schemes, agricultural subsidies, seeds, fertilisers, crop insurance, and market facilities through a digital system.

    Q4: When will the Bill be introduced in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly?
    A: The Bill is scheduled for introduction in the Monsoon Session beginning on 22 June 2026.

    Q5: What is the role of the proposed State-Level Monitoring Committee?
    A: The committee, headed by the Chief Secretary, will oversee implementation, ensure benefits reach women farmers, review the digital system, and address grievances.

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