Emphasising the central role of women in agriculture, Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said that “without women farmers, every plate would be empty,” while addressing a Women Farmers Conference organised by IFFCO at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre.
Highlighting women’s contributions across agriculture and allied sectors, he noted that women farmers work harder than their male counterparts and are key to ensuring food security and prosperity.
Calling 2026, the International Year of Women Farmers, a historic opportunity, Sinha urged that women be recognised as “creators, not merely labourers,” and be prioritised in every government scheme.
He stressed women-led development in Jammu & Kashmir, citing progress since 2020, and called for targeted credit solutions for landless women farmers, along with greater access to markets through cooperatives, digital tools, and quality inputs.
He also urged agriculture, horticulture, fisheries and dairy departments to earmark dedicated resources for women and asked stakeholders to remove barriers limiting their growth.
Sharing details of the event, Dileep Sanghani said the conference, held to mark International Women Farmers Year 2026, concluded with the national anthem and honoured individuals contributing to agriculture and the cooperative sector.
He underlined that the vision of “Sahkar se Samriddhi” given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is energising the cooperative movement across the country.
Sanghani also highlighted that the creation of the Ministry of Cooperation under Modi’s leadership, guided by
Amit Shah, and the introduction of new model by-laws have strengthened the cooperative framework. He noted his own contribution as a committee member in shaping these reforms.
The event witnessed the presence of key dignitaries including Javed Ahmad Dar, MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia, IFFCO MD K J Patel, Marketing Director Dr Yogendra Kumar, Sartaj A Shah, Vikrant Dogra, Binod Anand, Geeta Sanghani and Mamtaben Patel, among others.
The conference also featured exhibition visits, inauguration ceremonies and recognition of achievers, reinforcing the role of cooperatives and women-led initiatives in driving inclusive agricultural growth and rural transformation in Jammu & Kashmir.
