Corteva's #2MillionWomen initiative reaches over 6.37 lakh women across 22 states in two years

Corteva Agriscience launched its #2MillionWomen initiative two years ago on the belief that when women move ahead, agriculture moves ahead too. The company says that belief is now visible on the ground. Women in rural India are strengthening their livelihoods, adopting modern and better farming methods, starting new businesses and bringing change to their communities by taking up leadership roles.

The initiative began in September 2024. Its goal is to empower women across the entire agriculture value chain in India by 2030. It is counted among the first large-scale corporate initiatives focused on increasing women's participation and leadership in farming. The aim is to give women the skills, knowledge and opportunities they need to succeed as farmers, entrepreneurs and community leaders.

In numbers, the initiative has reached more than 7.95 lakh people in 22 states over the past two years, of whom more than 6.37 lakh are women. About 49,000 women are now working in leadership roles. More than 90,000 farmers have been trained, and the livelihoods of more than 1.54 lakh people have been strengthened. Better farming practices have also been adopted on more than 1.71 lakh hectares.

The example of women in Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh has been cited. For generations, women there collected mahua flowers and sold them at very low prices or made local country liquor from them. Trapped in a cycle of poverty and social stigma, their lives found a new direction with the formation of a women-led farmer producer organisation (FPO). Instead of making liquor from mahua flowers, they now process them into nutritious, good-quality "Tribo Mahua Laddu". These women, who once gathered flowers from the forest, have become confident entrepreneurs.

Poonam Tiwari of the Bandhavgarh Krishi Vanopaj Producer Company in Madhya Pradesh said, "The biggest change is that women have gained the confidence to lead. More women are now involved in decision-making, connecting with markets and taking on leadership responsibilities. With Corteva's support, our organisation has become stronger and our influence among farming communities has grown."

Pravesh Sharma, former managing director of the Government of India's Small Farmers' Agri-Business Consortium (SFAC), said, "The role of women is very important in Indian agriculture and rural development. If women get knowledge, skills and opportunities, their livelihoods can improve and rural communities can become stronger. Partnership-based initiatives such as #2MillionWomen can play an important role in enabling women to take part in farming, lead and contribute to the future of agriculture."

Sridhar Iswaran, co-founder of Samunnati Financial Intermediation and Services Pvt. Ltd., said women are at the centre of Indian agriculture. According to him, their role is extremely important in strengthening livelihoods in rural areas, ensuring food security and developing communities.

Subroto Geed, Asia-Pacific (APAC) president of Corteva Agriscience, said, "Women have always been the backbone of Indian agriculture. We have tried to ensure that their contribution is recognised and that they get the support they need. We are proud of the achievements of the past two years, but our commitment remains." He said the goal is to create more opportunities for women and help them realise their full potential across the agriculture value chain.

According to the company, the initiative is now moving into its next phase. Corteva will continue to support women-led organisations and enterprises and will keep working to create opportunities for more women to succeed across the agriculture value chain.