Women’s contributions, opportunities, and challenges in Indian agriculture: A systematic review

Abstract Background : Women constitute the backbone of Indian agriculture and account for up to 80% of the rural labour force, playing a critical role in seed selection, biodiversity conservation, soil fertility management, and food production. Despite this, they remain structurally undervalued and institutionally marginalised. Despite existing national laws and policies, and international commitments that affirm women’s rights and gender equality, the lived realities of women in agriculture reflect numerous forms of oppression. This oppression is mostly rooted in social and cultural norms that are male-centric. Methods : This review synthesizes over two decades of interdisciplinary research, government datasets, and regional field studies to examine India's gendered dimensions of sustainable agriculture. Framed by global policy instruments, including the Sustainable Development Goals, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, this analysis focuses on four key dimensions: (1) the ecological and economic roles of women in agriculture; (2) the opportunities for promoting sustainable agriculture through the active involvement of women in the agricultural sector; (3) the systemic barriers women face; and (4) the policy interventions required to reposition women as agents of agrarian transformation. The findings reveal that women sustain agrobiodiversity and ecological resilience through organic farming, agroforestry, and seed sovereignty. They also navigate intersectional vulnerabilities intensified by climate change, mechanization, and social exclusion. Creating opportunities for their greater involvement in agriculture can, therefore, be a strategic move not only towards achieving gender equality but also to ensure long-term environmental and agricultural sustainability. Despite the contribution they make and the promising future they offer, women farmers experience significant barriers. Only 16% of rural women own land; gender gaps in wages, training participation, and decision making remain stark. Where women have access to productive resources and governance platforms, measurable improvements occur in productivity, food security, and climate adaptation outcomes. Conclusion : Achieving sustainable agriculture and climate resilience in India requires reconfiguring agrarian policies to cater for women’s rights, autonomy, and well-being rather than viewing them solely as instruments of development. This includes legalization of land rights, devolution of the agrarian governance, supporting rural childcare facilities, and gender-sensitive financial mechanisms. Supportive policies and programmes should be designed to ensure gender equality, the independence of women and recognize women as rights-bearing agents who can bring transformative change.