India’s women farmers face barriers to formal agricultural credit

Women do much of India’s agricultural work, but many struggle to get formal credit because they are not recognised as farmers.

In India, about 64.4% of employed women worked in agriculture and related activities in 2023–24, while women held about 14% of operational landholdings in 2015–16.

Lenders often rely on land records and credit histories, which can exclude women who farm family-owned or leased land.

Local banking agents can help women make deposits, withdrawals and payments without travelling to distant branches, but they do not replace banks’ lending role.

India had about 1.23 crore women’s self-help groups linked to bank savings by March 2025, though savings links do not guarantee access to farm loans.

The article argues that banks should assess farming activity beyond land ownership and offer finance suited to crop cycles, alongside insurance awareness and financial education.

The proposed next step is credit that supports farm productivity and protects borrowers from risk, with inclusion judged by whether women can access resources to build more secure livelihoods.