MUMBAI, July 2 -- In a move to recognise the contribution of women in agriculture, the state government has introduced a Maharashtra Women Farmers Empowerment Bill, 2026, to provide formal recognition to women farmers and create an institutional framework for their empowerment. The proposed law seeks to issue women farmer certificates to eligible women engaged in farming activities, enabling them to access various government schemes, access to loan, benefits and support. Female farmers engaged in agricultural activities, including cultivation, farm management and allied sectors, do not get formal recognition as farmers due to ownership and documentation issues. The proposed certification system is aimed at addressing this gap. The government has proposed the creation of a women farmer database to maintain official records of women involved in agriculture. According to officials from the agriculture department, about 70% of farmers are women engaged in agriculture though they are nowhere to be found on records or documents. htc...