Advancing women’s empowerment through climate-resilient natural farming

This study aimed to examine how climate-resilient natural farming (NF) contributed to women’s empowerment, farm profitability, and ecological sustainability, within the framework of gender-responsive agricultural extension in red and laterite zone of West Bengal. The research employed a narrative synthesis approach combined with an in-depth case study, integrating field-based insights with farm level economics data to document women empowerment alongside agro economic performance under NF systems. The study was conducted during 2021-25 in Bankura district of West Bengal and involved a detailed case study of a tribal woman farmer, Mrs. Gainamoni Murmu, from the Taldangra block. A comparative economic assessment of NF with conventional farming (CF) systems was conducted using season-wise data on cost of cultivation and net returns. The findings were triangulated with relevant empirical studies to ensure consistency with documented gender empowerment outcomes and agroecological performance trends. NF reduced cultivation costs by about 7-25% and increased net returns by 14-28% compared to CF, with the highest gains observed in diversified crop combinations and protected cultivation systems using on-farm bio inputs. Farm income records showed a consistent upward trend, reflecting improved profitability, reduced input dependence, and greater income stability. In parallel, women’s empowerment outcomes improved markedly, with enhanced decision-making authority, control over farm income and leadership roles in SHGs/FPOs. The study demonstrates that NF, when supported by gender-responsive extension and institutional linkages, functions as both an environmentally regenerative and socially transformative pathway, advancing women’s empowerment and contributing to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 2, 5, 12, 13, 15) in resource-constrained regions.