TN Government Considering Incentives for Women's Farmland Rights, Says Minister

Food and Civil Supplies Minister P.V. Venkataramanan announced that the state government is considering measures to offer incentives and strengthen women’s rights over agricultural land. Speaking at the valedictory session of the annual conference of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) in Chennai, the minister emphasized the urgent need to bridge the persistent gender gap in land ownership and access across the sector.

Addressing the audience at MSSRF, Minister Venkataramanan stated that the government hopes to formally discuss mechanisms for providing these incentives during either the current budget session or the next. He pointed out that while gender equality is frequently debated across various public forums and economic sectors, a lack of awareness remains a major obstacle to securing farmland rights for women.

The minister noted that the conference provided a deeper understanding of gender disparities in agriculture, expressing optimism that future government policies and schemes will place a stronger focus on empowering female agricultural workers.

The two-day annual conference was organized to mark the birth anniversary of Prof M.S. Swaminathan, the founder of MSSRF and one of the primary architects of India’s Green Revolution. Held against the backdrop of the United Nations’ International Year of the Woman Farmer, this year’s theme was titled ‘Building Gender-Just Food, Land and Water Systems’.

During the event, MSSRF chairperson Dr Soumya Swaminathan highlighted that detailed discussions took place regarding food, land, and water systems while drawing attention to several institutional gaps that require immediate resolution. She noted that expert panels also examined the growing impact of climate change and extreme heat on female workers.

Kanta Singh, deputy country representative at the UN Women India Country Office, stressed the necessity of placing greater economic control and financial resources directly into the hands of women. She urged both State and Central governments to execute faster and more coordinated planning to mitigate climate change and its disproportionate impact on women.

Highlighting broader systemic issues, Dr N.R. Bhanumurthy, Director of the Madras School of Economics, described the nation as facing a public policy crisis in tackling nutrition challenges. He observed that despite numerous state-level programs, governments have been unable to fully resolve the issue, calling for targeted nutrition initiatives specifically designed for women and the girl child.