India's climate crisis is not just an environmental issue; it's a gender issue. With women constituting over 42% of the agricultural workforce, the impacts of climate change are felt acutely by them. Recent data shows that extreme weather events have escalated, with 2025 witnessing catastrophic conditions that claimed thousands of lives and devastated millions of hectares of farmland. The existing resilience frameworks fail to adequately address the unique vulnerabilities faced by women, particularly in rural areas where they are often the primary cultivators. This oversight risks perpetuating socio-structural disparities, making it imperative to integrate gender equity into climate governance.
The economic implications are stark. Projections indicate that staple crop yields could decline significantly by 2030, particularly in rain-fed regions where women farmers are predominant. A single failed season can lead to the collapse of rural households, exacerbating poverty and mental health crises. Research links climate-induced crop failures to increased suicide rates among female farmers, underscoring the urgent need for targeted interventions that support women's resilience.
