While women constitute over 70% of India's agricultural workforce, their leadership often goes unrecognized. These 10 remarkable women are changing that narrative - transforming rural livelihoods through innovation, activism, and sustainable practices.
From seed conservation to agri-tech solutions, these pioneers demonstrate how women are reshaping Indian agriculture:
- Environmental stewards planting thousands of trees
- Seed guardians preserving indigenous varieties
- Rural entrepreneurs creating farm-to-market models
- Policy advocates fighting for farmers' rights
- Tech innovators bridging the digital divide
🧭 India's Top 10 Women in Agriculture (2025)
| S.No | Name | State | Focus Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saalumarada Thimmakka | Karnataka | Environmental farming, tree planting |
| 2 | Sunita Kambale | Maharashtra | Goat farming, livestock health |
| 3 | Rahibai Popere | Maharashtra | Indigenous seeds, organic farming |
| 4 | Kamal Kumbhar | Maharashtra | Rural women entrepreneurship |
| 5 | Chukki Nanjundaswamy | Karnataka | Farmers' rights, land policy |
| 6 | Reema Sathe | Maharashtra | Farm-to-market millet supply |
| 7 | Jayshree Patil | Maharashtra | Agro-training and women education |
| 8 | Vanitha Rengaraj | Tamil Nadu | Organic farming & rural rehabilitation |
| 9 | Sangeetha Kalanidhi | Tamil Nadu | Urban & rooftop farming |
| 10 | Maitri Karve | Pan-India | Agritech for women farmers |
👩🌾 Detailed Profiles: India's Leading Women in Agriculture
These inspiring women are revolutionizing Indian agriculture through innovation, sustainability, and community empowerment. From preserving indigenous seeds to launching tech-enabled farming solutions, each woman here is a changemaker in her own right.
🌳 Saalumarada Thimmakka – Environmental Icon of Karnataka
A legend in Indian environmental circles, Thimmakka began planting banyan trees along a 4 km stretch of highway near Hulikal in Karnataka. With no formal education, she turned barren land green by planting over 8,000+ trees.
Focus: Agroforestry, traditional methods of land enrichment
Awards: Padma Shri, National Citizen's Award
Impact: Promoted environmental stewardship using traditional Indian farming wisdom
🐐 Sunita Kambale – The Goat Veterinarian of Maharashtra
A grassroots veterinary worker in Osmanabad district, Sunita travels to remote villages providing goat health services and teaches women how to raise livestock as an income source.
Work: Associated with Swayam Shikshan Prayog's Sakhi network
Focus: Livestock care, rural veterinary support, goat-based livelihoods
Impact: Empowered 800+ women with goat farming skills, boosting family incomes
🌱 Rahibai Popere – The Seed Guardian from Akola
Known as "Beej Mata," Rahibai preserves over 120 varieties of indigenous seeds and promotes sustainable, chemical-free farming. A farmer by practice and innovator by spirit, she teaches others how to save seeds and cultivate biodiversity.
Awards: Padma Shri, BBC's Top 100 Women
Initiatives: Self-help groups, farmer-to-farmer training
Impact: Revived native crops like kalbhat rice, safeguarding food security
🐓 Kamal Kumbhar – Rural Agripreneur Changing Lives
Starting with just ₹500, Kamal launched a backyard poultry business, eventually expanding into solar-powered shops and agri-based microenterprises. She trains women in business planning and resource utilization.
State: Maharashtra
Reach: 3,000+ women mentored across Maharashtra and Telangana
Impact: Created women-led agri-business models and multi-income rural households
📣 Chukki Nanjundaswamy – Voice of Farmers' Rights
Daughter of farmers' leader Prof. Nanjundaswamy, Chukki carries forward his legacy through the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha. She campaigns for sustainable agriculture, fair pricing, and farmer education.
State: Karnataka
Focus: Seed sovereignty, anti-GMO activism, land rights
Impact: Strengthened policy discussions around farmers' welfare and ecology
🌾 Reema Sathe – Founder of Happy Roots
An ex-corporate professional, Reema founded Happy Roots to connect tribal and women farmers with premium buyers. Her millet and grain-based products are now sold in gourmet stores and ecommerce platforms.
State: Maharashtra
Model: Value-chain business promoting direct-from-farm-to-market access
Impact: Uplifted 12,000+ marginal farmers, ensured price dignity and brand ownership
📚 Jayshree Patil – Champion of Agro Training
Known for her hands-on approach, Jayshree conducts field-based education sessions in rural Maharashtra. Her teachings on modern farming tools, soil health, and organic alternatives help women reduce input costs.
Affiliation: Works with Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK)
Impact: Trained over 1,500 women in better farming practices
Special Focus: Accessible agri-science for first-generation farmers
🌿 Vanitha Rengaraj – Farming for Rehabilitation
Founder of Sharanalayam, a home for the abandoned and differently-abled in Erode, Vanitha uses organic farming as therapy and livelihood. The produce supports their home and provides self-worth to its residents.
Model: Community farming for marginalized populations
Crops: Medicinal herbs, seasonal vegetables, fruit trees
Impact: Created a self-sustaining social farming ecosystem
🪴 Sangeetha Kalanidhi – Urban Farming Educator
A software engineer turned farmer, Sangeetha turned her Chennai terrace into a lush garden, promoting zero-waste urban farming. Her YouTube channel and workshops help thousands start kitchen gardens.
Specialization: Rooftop farming, composting, seed saving
Community: 1,00,000+ subscribers and learners online
Impact: Bridging the rural-urban divide in sustainable food production
📱 Maitri Karve – Technologist for Female Farmers
A young innovator, Maitri creates mobile-based solutions to assist women farmers in crop selection, weather alerts, and market prices. Her workshops improve digital literacy among rural women.
Initiative: Agritech for Women, backed by state-level innovation grants
Apps Used: Kisan Suvidha, Plantix, custom-built AI alerts
Impact: Tech adoption among 5,000+ women in farming belts
