Saving Oceans and Ocean Life: For Climate, For Our Future

While May's observations were about biodiversity, June is about the ecosystems that support them and the processes and species that are indicative of ecosystem health. The  environment, the ocean, prevention of desertification through rangeland management, the summer solstice as well as rainforests day. Protecting and restoring ecosystems is vital to enable climate action (SDG 13) and thus ensure a future for ourselves.

 June 8th is observed annually as World  Oceans Day. In 2026 it has a three themes, the United Nations' evocative theme was:

REIMAGINE: Beyond the world we know, a new relationship with our ocean.

 

The World Ocean Day network that supports "a multi-year initiative to drive collective action for ocean health and climate stability, supporting the global '30x30' goal to protect at least 30% of oceans by 2030"  has amore action oriented Oceans Day 2026 theme: 

“Strong Marine Protected Areas for Our Blue Planet” 

 “Catalyzing Action for Our Ocean & Climate”

Source: Meraki By Me, Raakhee, 16 April 2026.

Orca Awareness Month and Sea Turtle Day

June is observed as Orca Awareness Month and June 16th is Sea Turtle Day, both species at the top of their respective food chains are indicators of Ocean Health.

The apex predator - the Orca or Killer Whale the largest of the dolphin family as an alpha in many ways is rightly celebrated through the month of June. 

Meanwhile the sea turtle is no slouch as efforts to restore its population have improved ocean connected lives and livelihoods in coastal areas especially in Tamil Nadu this year. Also, it was originally a video of a pulling out a plastic straw from the bloody nostril of a sea turtle that exponentially improved legislations and efforts to clean up beaches, oceans as well as ban the use of single use plastic including the young people initiated No Straw November movement from California. 

Marine Plastic Pollution & OBP Menace

Be it the massive Ocean Cleanup  organized by Boyan Slat since 2013 after encountering the Great Pacific Garbage Patch or our local heroes working to restore the ocean and coastal ecosystems (river estuaries and mangroves) by cleaning it up and removing the plastic pollution from it and preventing city plastic reaching the oceans through urban waterways (ocean bound plastic), each are Ocean heroes and their efforts build sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11) while also improving the lives of local coastal communities ( SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth). In a way they are humans churning the ocean through cleanup (EFI & Its Weekend Beach Cleanup OhShun Trash; Afroz Shah cleaning up Mumbai's mangroves and tourist beaches, Bapi Gochhayat of Odisha, or Taiwan's Ryan Wang of Rhinoglass and many many more)  to reveal its secrets and treasures to sustain us humans in the future. Buffeted as we are by the climate crisis we need this modern human churning of the ocean.

Sustaining Life and Livelihoods: SDG 14

Life and Livelihoods, Blue Economy and Sustainable Development and  Climate Action efforts on the ocean create economic opportunities and wealth sustainably while also protecting the ocean ecosystem and our environment. Be it SDG 14 - Life Below Water or SDG 13 - Climate Action the Ocean SDGs & Economy SDGs (SDG 8, SDG 9, SDG 10) there is hope in peaceful coexistence through restoration of the ocean as well as protecting it well. Sustainable coastal and marine tourism is just one such opportunity. 

For Climate:  For Our Future 

Oceans are heaven as well as the best carbon store. It is through protecting our marine ecosystems can we ensure true climate action on an exponential scale. Strong Marine Protected Areas will lead to carbon credits and indirect carbon sequestration as well as improving  the lives and livelihoods of adjacent local communities. 

A bonus for getting to the end of this blog post

In honor of Oceans Day and my ocean-loving young nephew's birthday all in the same week in June I have recorded a playlist of 8 videos of the 8 chapters of the story, The Hermit and the Rose by Boris Lakhoder - a creative and imaginative explanation of the real-life symbiosis between the hermit crab and the sea anemone. 

Protect Our Environment: For Our Future

 If May was about biodiversity. June is all about ecosystems. As mentioned in the previous post the theme for World Environment Day 2026 (WED2026) is

Inspired by Nature.

For Climate.

For Our Future.

Source: Meraki By Me, Raakhee, 5 June 2026.

Protecting Our Environment

The month of June while observed as Orca Awareness Month (All About Killer Whales) otherwise has an enhanced focus on the ecosystems that support the biodiversity that's celebrated through May. 

Between World Bicycle Day (June 3rd, "Cycling into a Greener Future," 2026 theme), Environment Day (June 5th), Ocean Day (June 8th), International Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (June 17th), the Summer Solstice (also observed as Yoga Day, where Surya Namaskar a.k.a. Sun Salutations from India in the Northern Hemisphere is vital to the ancient practice and the sun too reaches its exaltation over the Tropic of Cancer running through the heart of India with two Sun Temples in the East and West along the latitude), and Rainforests Day (June 22nd), the focus is firmly on the ecosystems and environment that supports life and livelihoods. 

The time is now. Action is necessary urgently as security risks abound in India, South Asia and beyond due to climate change and the heating planet supercharging weather phenomena such as the El Nino. The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres himself took time out to mention the impending climate disasters likely triggered by the Super El Nino as warned by the World Meteorological Organization: 

While our Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are environment coded, protecting our planet in the quest to truly progress is all about putting people, planet, progress and profits in the same page of the plan of action. 

As mentioned by internationally recognized voice from the Global South for the environment, Centre for Science and Environment's (CSE) Sunita Narain in her insightful analysis ahead of WED2026 in the CSE publication Down To Earth, inclusive growth and sustainable development in modeling our growth story is vital to protect our environment: 

Inclusive plans of action and an intersectional lens are vital features of true environmentalism. The effects of the climate crisis are gendered and classist hence the process of protecting our environment needs to voices of women, girls, minorities and the marginalized, with a responsive ground up, grassroots grown approach.

For Our Future 

Nations are institutions are doing quite a bit to protect our environment "for our future," but a lot more needs to be done. 

The pace of destructive activity and our crude oil addiction outpaces conservation and restoration efforts and the mainstreaming of renewable energy sources.  

Ecofeminism is needed as the growth model now more than ever. Gender Equality (SDG5), Reduced Inequality (SDG10) and Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (SDG16) are all vital to Climate Action (SDG13) and the path to Just Transition and robust environmentalism. 

Meanwhile, as an individual, this environment day and beyond you can track your personal carbon footprint (Check out OnlyPlanet.in) and find means to shrink it to reduce your impact on the environment in order to protect it ... for our future. For, to quote the immortal Jane Goodall, 

"Every single one of us makes an impact on our planet every single day and we can choose what kind of impact we make."

Ecomodernism in the lead up to Environment Day 2026

 After a May focused on celebrating biodiversity in its many forms, the main focus in June will be Environment Day, observed on 5 June 2026. 

The theme for World Environment Day 2026 (WED2026) is 

"Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future."

WED2026 is hosted by Azerbaijan. 

Personally I have found the environmental philosophies of Ecomodernism, Ecofeminism and a future reimagined as "Solar Punk" most in-line with the theme of #WorldEnvironmentDay2026. The theme of Environment Day as well as the ecology-centric worldviews of  Ecomodernism and Ecofeminism put the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Circularity at their hearts. An ecology-first approach with an intersectionalist lens is central to reimagining a regenerative world. 

What is Insersectnality?

(See explainer video below)

Ecomodernism 

"Ecomodernism is an environmental philosophy arguing that human technological development and economic growth can—and should—be harnessed to protect nature and improve human wellbeing. At its core, ecomodernism focuses on 'decoupling', a process meant to separate growing economic prosperity from environmental damage. This is primarily achieved through 'land sparing'—intensifying human activities like food and energy production on less land, which leaves more space for natural ecosystems to thrive."

If I have reservations about ecomodernism its the approval of nuclear power, synthetic fertilizers, genetically modified crops and urbanization in the quest to concentrate civilization and let ecology thrive in silos. See the YouTube Shorts summary (10 Cool Facts!) below: 

Ecofeminism 

Ecofeminism was introduced in Carolyn Merchant's 1980 book The Death of Nature: Women, Ecology, and the Scientific Revolution. It calls for knowledge with an ecological ethic of care instead of dominance. A return to a mode of development in partnership with nature, respecting it as living systems instead of machines to be controlled and dominated. See the explainer YouTube shorts below: 

Solarpunk 

"Solarpunk a literary, artistic, and social movement that envisions a sustainable, optimistic future where humanity lives in harmony with nature. It blends advanced renewable technology (the tech, SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy) with ecological awareness, actively rejecting climate doomerism in favor of community-driven, post-capitalist solutions (punk resistance to neocapitalism, neocolonialism & neoliberalism, et al. a.k.a. “Empire,” as Arundhati Roy puts it)"

Electric Bus launched in Indian Metros & Solar Ferry in Kochi's (Keralam) backwaters.

One of  the facilitators from my South Asia fellowship with Climate Tracker a decade ago (2016), Renee Karunungan from The Philippines, now based in United Kingdom shared how she has solarized her home and electrified her transport with UK government subsidies.  

Beyond Environment Day: For Our Future

Meanwhile my classmate, Venkatesh R. highlighted the plans for going 100% Off-Grid in India in his post on Medium as the Ground Truth Architect.

With the heating Pacific Ocean and predictions of a Super El Nino bound to mess with my city, Chennai's monsoon season (Northeast Monsoon), Venkatesh 'the Ground Truth Architect' also highlighted low-cost retrofits of the city's existing storm drains and rainwater harvesting systems as well as the introduction of porous roads in low-traffic areas and parking as well as bioswales in place of medians on highways. Thus reimaging the Greater Chennai Metropolis as a sponge city. 

Inspired by Nature: Biomimicry & Beyond

Video: Sponge City: Chinese Style

Inspiration from nature is a way of working in partnership with it for people, planet and profits. This can be as simple as growing your kitchen garden to encourage symbiosis or can go up to inspiration for tech to clean up the messes of over-consumption, capitalism, neocolonialism and neoliberalism.

#PlantHealthDay contd.
Healthy Plants for Healthy Humans!
Let's #endhunger & obliterate #micronutrienthunger AKA #microhunger - #SDG2 #ZeroHunger through thriving plant #biodiversity #SDG15 #LifeOnLand in our #kitchengardens #herbpatches & beyond#FruitForests as #UrbanForests https://t.co/EwznYjzOht

— Raakhee Suryaprakash (@10sunshinegal) May 26, 2026

 

For Climate: For Our Future

Beyond consumption for consumption's sake, living under the cloud of planned obsolescence as we are, we need to embrace the tenets of the circular economy models and sustainable development to live in harmony with nature. 

My dad handed me two clothespins. “This,” he said, “is the story of everything.”

In one hand: a clothespin from the 1960s. Solid hardwood, smooth from decades of use. It still works perfectly, some 60 years later.

In the other: a clothespin from 2025. Lighter, paler wood,… pic.twitter.com/Rh33ZpVOxR

— Mr PitBull Stories (@MrPitbull07) May 26, 2026

And however we design solutions, we must remember to hold an intersectional lens up to the problem to solve it holistically and regeneratively! 

Uncut grass keeps the ground at around 19.5°C
Grass cut to 10 cm raises the ground temperature to about 24.5°C
Bare ground in the middle of summer rises to over 40°C
It's important to raise awareness #NoMowMay pic.twitter.com/IQJviy48Ko

— Dr Elaine Cox 🍃 💚 🍃🌽🥬🐦‍⬛🐌🇬🇧 (@ElaineCox11) May 25, 2026

 

 

“Shuddhi” & Synchronicities: Mental Health Awareness

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Early in January this year I set up a Facebook page, "Meraki by Me, Raakhee" to share my creations and honor my New Year resolution to create more than I consume. In a wonderful demonstration of "synchronicities" as mentioned by one of the online participants of the session I attended, the universe conspired to help me and I came across a WhatsApp Status updaate for a "curated reading" of Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way the night before the event. 

To boost my creativity and mental health, on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, I participated in this hybrid Reading Circle session led by Swathy, an ace educational therapist, of Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way at Shuddhi Space. The book as toolkit to boost creativity and the circle of supportive young minds at Shuddhi Space recharged me. Perfect activity for May which is Mental Health Awareness Month. 

The word "Shuddhi" means healing or cleansing, and the space is all about "Together toward Holistic Healing."  Mission Accomplished!

We exchanged ideas, learnings, gratitude and little mementoes to wrap up the session. I've come away thrilled that one of my creations - an artwork "Star of the Sea" that I posted about on my Facebook page Meraki by Me, Raakhee now hangs in the "Friends of Shuddhi" Corner along with its repurposed plastic sleeve with hanger a garment I bought came in as instant picture frame.

Here's to Sunrise Walks and "Morning Pages" to boost mental health and kick start creativity.

SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-Being

Climate Change and Mental Health 

In addition to winter blues and seasonal depression, the new weather related mood disrupter is heat. Heat stress increase in irritability, arguments and domestic violence. Extreme heat in addition to many other women-specific vulnerabilities disproportionately affects women's health and their mental health.

Humidity and high night-time temperatures disrupt sleep and affect mental health, mood and productivity.

Create to Combat Cognitive & Mental Health Decline 

pic.twitter.com/02Cs12fe2s

— Cozyreads (@Cozyreads_) May 4, 2026

Becoming by Creating 

A powerful reading of Kurt Vonnegut's November 2006 letter to students by thespian par excellence Sir Ian McKellan on the power of creating and creativity in helping one find oneself and becoming!

Healthy Bodies for Healthy Minds 

Ancient philosopher Musonious was an ardent proponent that healthy bodies are vital for healthy minds.

Exercise, Dancing, Singing, Listening to Uplifting and Foot-tapping Music, Meditation, Yoga, Tai Chi, Deep Breathing, Tapping and trying to be aware of your inner workings and emotions by listening to your body by shutting out the outside noise and focusing inwards all help with boosting mental health and well-being.

Mindless and repetitive physical activity, a kind of meditative movement helps deal with faltering moods and creative blocks. Britain's Wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill was famous for fighting off his dark moods - his depression through bricklaying. 

Winston Churchill fought his depression with bricks. He'd lay them for hours at his country home in Kent. He joined the bricklayers' union. And in 1921 he wrote about why it worked. It took psychology another 75 years to catch up.

He called his depression the "Black Dog." It… https://t.co/QfAsWvT9KB

— Anish Moonka (@anishmoonka) May 5, 2026

Female Friendships, a Nurturing Circle of Friends, a Supportive Social Life

Rural women from Kutch, Gujarat, embroidering together - supportive community and income stream

(SDG 11: Sustainable Community and SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth)

                                                  

A supportive circle is everything. Be it family, friends or community, mood and mental health is healed by a nurturing and supportive circle of people. 

Heal in Nature 

Traditional remedies are very effective in tackling mental health challenges and in places like Japan, Finland & Greece they actually prescribe spending time in nature to reset circadian rhythms and cortisol levels and manage mental health.

"Few people know how to take a walk. The qualifications are endurance, plain clothes, old shoes, an eye for nature, good humour, vast curiosity, good speech, good silence, and nothing too much."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson pic.twitter.com/elMQFfOgld

— Cian McCarthy (@arealmofwonder) May 9, 2026

Forest Bathing or Shinrin-yoku in Japan, actual sea bathing (jumping into the Mediterranean Sea) in Greece, and hiking, sun & sauna time in Finland all are prescribed as healing practices for those struggling with mental health challenges. Audio Therapy of the Golden Frequency (432 Hertz) and even bird song also is effective in lowering cortisol levels - the so-called golden frequency in the golden ratio (1.618) helps heal. As does just the act of getting out of your head and observing minutely the miracle of nature surrounding you. 

Part 2. Charles Dickens swam in freezing sea water every morning before he could write. He built himself an ice-cold shower under a 150-foot waterfall in 1849. He wrote letters explaining why it worked. The chemistry of what he was doing has only just been measured.

Dickens…

— Anish Moonka (@anishmoonka) May 16, 2026

Charles Dickens fought his depression by walking through London at night. One October he set out at 2 in the morning and walked 30 miles, all the way to his country home in Kent. In 1860 he wrote about why it worked. It took psychology another 150 years to catch up.

Dickens… pic.twitter.com/l7ptbBytbJ

— Anish Moonka (@anishmoonka) May 15, 2026

Healing Plants 

 Insomnia, anxiety and stress are things tackled through plant extracts targeting the five senses. A popular example is Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) for stress relief. 

Then there is the obvious, food of the gods - Chocolate that has been repeatedly proved to be a health and well-being powerhouse - Theobromine the active component in chocolate/cocoa is truly a miraculous one. 

While exploring herbal health solutions, nothing beats Traditional know-how like Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Forest herbs, kashayams (elixirs stirred up on kitchen stoves by concerned wives, mothers and grandmothers) and kitchen garden remedies passed down through generations are still very effective in boosting health, well-being,  mood and mental health. 

Women Winning International Awards for Environmental Action

 

Recently there was mainstream media news bytes in between all the din of election news that two Indian Women Conservationists won the Whitley Awards - also popularly  known as the "Green Oscars" - at the near end of Earth Month (April, as Earth Day is April 22nd). 

Parveen Shaikh, a scientist with the Bombay Natural History Society for her conservation efforts to protect the riverine bird the Indian Skinner, and Barkha Subba, a scientific advisor to the NGO the Federation of Societies for Environmental Protection for her work to protect the Himalayan Salamander in Darjeeling of West Bengal, were both honored at the Royal Geographic Society in London on April 29th, 2026 by Princess Anne.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Whitley Fund For Nature (@whitleyawards)

The Wire and The Better India did wonderfully informative stories on these superwomen from India and beyond.

Dr. Kirthi K. Karanth, another Indian woman and scientist working to mitigate man-animal conflict was recognized as a National Geographic as its 2026 Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year. In the time of the Climate Crises and increased Man-Animal Conflicts due to encroachment and unsustainable development of key animal habitats we need conservationists more than ever. 

For 28 years, Krithi Karanth worked in the spaces most people avoid — where forests meet farms, and survival meets fear.

She didn’t see “Humans Vs Wildlife.”
She saw a broken relationship worth fixing.

Now, she is the first Indian to be named the 2026 Rolex National Geographic… pic.twitter.com/MeQ5oeIzWF

— The Better India (@thebetterindia) May 8, 2026

Internationally all six awards of what is purported to be the Green Nobels - the 6 Goldman Environmental Prizes went to six women - awarded in United States to environmental scientists, environmental activists, environmentalists and conservationists from across the globe.

There is a long history of community leadership and scientific study by women which has been impactful from the Chipko Movement of the hill state of Uttarakhand (then part of Uttar Pradesh) in India to Jane Goodall, an amateur who became the voice of the voiceless creatures she observed and served. 

As with all greats they are first misunderstood and then recognized and rewarded, if lucky in their lifetime. They face down the remorseless entrenched systems that exploit the world and consume its resources greedily. 

These women and the many unrecognized and courageous grassroots and scientific conservationists are vital in preserving biodiversity and life on land and beyond (SDG 15).  By recognizing the struggles of women scientists and environmental activist we give gender equality (SDG 5) a boost in a very challenging and male-dominated field which is overwhelmed by the onslaught of Big Interests, Big Power and Big Industry. 

The reputation and experiences of Polish conservationist and "zoo-psychologist" Dr. Simone Kossak demonstrate this resistance to environmental conservation especially by women in the face of  what is deemed "development". First dismissed as a witch and animal-whisperer, the daughter and granddaughter of established nationally revered  artists, she chose to become a scientist and in 1971 started working in situ in the forests bordering Poland and Belarus in a hut without electricity and mod-cons to save endangered lynxes and wolves among other native species.  She stood up to those exploiting the wildlife and natural resources and faced down big industrial interests at great personal and legal peril.  Finally her efforts were recognized in addition to saving Life on Land (SDG 15) while also boosting Gender Equality in the scientific and conservation communities. A big win for sustainable development whenever it happens - recognition and gratitude to conservationists especially women scientists' community-level efforts to preserve nature. 

Locals called her a witch. Animals followed her through the forest. A lynx slept beside her. A wild boar lived in her bed for 17 years. A crow stole official documents and shredded them on her roof. She lived 30 years in a wooden lodge with no electricity, confiscated illegal… pic.twitter.com/ZgYhw1amvb

— SubRosa )✿( Magick @subrosamagick.bsky.social (@SubRosaMagick) May 10, 2026

May Day and Mental Health - For People & Planet

 May Day 2026 brings together multiple international, labor, religious and ancient festivals. One message common to all these observations for me is the support for mental wellness and mental health. This support is vital for both people and planet as the well-being of the planet is intrinsically connected to the well-being of people and vice-versa. 

This May Day which itself has links to Roman festivities to welcome the season of light - Summer - coincides with Beltane (Ancient Gaelic, Pagan & wiccan), Buddha Jayanthi (also called Vesak) and full moon festivals observed in India (Chitra Pournami/Vaishakha Poornima), and the Scorpio Full Moon.

The effect of the moon on the state of our mind, vital for our mental health and well-being, has long been observed. 

May Day since the 19th Century Haymarket Affair of Chicago has also been observed as International Worker's Day, a.k.a. Labor Day. Thus beyond the May pole and Beltane fires of fertility and protection especially on the farm, May Day has come to represent the rights of workers. Labor Day 2026's theme is "Encouraging a Healthy Psychosocial Working Environment. This again puts health and well-being, especially mental well-being front and center. This in turn flows into SDG 3 (Sustainable Development Goal 3 - Good Health and Well-Being). 

Mental Well-Being 

A healthy working environment makes for happy workers. In our ever warming world and an economy filled with gig workers and laborers who work under the sun (construction and farm workers, delivery persons, drivers and motorists transporting people and things as well as running errands for those who don't want to step into severe weather (heat and humidity, monsoon, snow days, etc.) the traffic-filled or polluted environment, setting up comfortable shelters where they can rest and take a break from the harsh outdoors is a boon. Ensuring right to leisure and humane working hours and working conditions also makes for a healthy psychosocial working environment and workers with happy and healthy minds and bodies instead of just exploited and productive ones. Weather cooling hubs or rest pods, whether in Spain or in Chennai, when workers face a harsh environment, shelter is a vital workers' right. 

Tackling Unpaid Care Work & Climate Action 

For prosperous and peaceful people and planet a "healthy psychosocial environment" is vital whether at home or at work. It is "integrated solutions for intersectional crises." This addresses multiple SDGs but especially SDG 5 - Gender Equality and SDG 13 - Climate Action for Sustainable Development in the face of  multiple intersectional crises. 

As mentioned in the April posts on Women Farmers, unpaid care work in the domestic setting (in homes) unfairly eats in to the time and rights of women and girls. Care work just like climate action are vital to keep the "working environment" friction-less and comfortable. Taking care of the home involves endless chores but only when they are all taken care off a worker can perform without mental burden. Supporting and paying for this "ease and comfort" in the home and hearth as well as the workplace makes for happy people and by default, a happy planet. 

Lindsey Jones-Renaud's zine summary of the policy paper "Climate Change and Care Work: Integrated Solutions for Intersectional Crises" highlights this connect between Care and Climate Change and thus the need for climate action that supports those burdened with extra unpaid care work in are warming planet. 

"There is a fundamental link between caring for people and caring for the planet. Both are essential for human survival, yet both are exploited for short-term economic profit. This zine summarizes the policy implications of the intersecting care-climate crises and presents recommendations for taking action. It is adapted from the 2024 policy paper of the same name, which was published by a coalition of international organizations. You can find the full report here."

Peace and Prosperity, Health and Happiness are what most of us hope for in our ideal lives at home and in the workplace - anywhere in the planet. 

A healthy planet with healthy people at peace makes this happen. Our environment shapes us - thus making our environment healthy will make us all healthy and happy. Thus employers should remember this and for sustained profits at least ensure a healthy psychosocial working environment. 

Supporting Women Farmers for Sustainable Development

 A sustained effort is needed to support women farmers to enable sustainable development beyond the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF2026), Women's Day (IWD) and the scope of their conferences. It is a low hanging fruit and a potential windfall: supporting women farmers to boost the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in rural communities across the globe in general and in India in particularly to achieve objectives in greater numbers.

 Source: Empowering Women Farmers in Agriculture, Press Information Bureau of India (PIB), 23 March 2026

Beyond IYWF2026 & IWD 

A lot of  effort has been put in to empower women in the agri-food system, but it happens in pockets and silos, with limited reach and barriers to scaling-up whether they are government programs, PPP (public-private partnership) initiatives, CSR or ESG programs. Despite many award-winning efforts by women farmers and food and agricultural entrepreneurs the impact has been very local. With the feminization of agriculture more mainstream efforts, publicity and hand-holding is needed to improve the plight of women farmers and as a corollary the lives and livelihoods of rural communities.

Trinity Saioo of Meghalaya won the Padma Shri in 2020 for her efforts to train women and boost the production of the GI tagged Lakadong Turmeric. The efforts of this rural teacher single-handedly boosted multiple SDGs and developmental indicators and enabled sustainable development through empowering women to elevate local produce. 

They say one person can’t change an entire system. In Meghalaya, one teacher quietly proved otherwise.

A former school teacher from Mulieh village, Trinity Saioo turned to farming not just to support her family, but to transform an entire community. What began as a small step… pic.twitter.com/Ypmkya2asE

— The Better India (@thebetterindia) April 27, 2026

Krishi Sakhis, SHGs & Women Farmer Collectives

The Government of India is promoting Krishi Sakhis (literally: Farming Women Friends) trained women farmers who can help and train other women farmers to access government initiatives and funds to farm better. Women Farmer Collectives and Self-Help Groups are also doing great work locally in the community-level to empower women farmers and hand-hold them in accessing government, private and CSR programs, training and funding. 

 

 Tamil Nadu ranks number 13 in organic farming in India. Efforts such as EPIC-SS (Eco Park and Information Centre - Sustainable Solutions, Padur, Chennai) of former IAS officer Santha Sheela Nair and Kalpavriksha Farms - a food forest set up by Kalpana Manivannan, a Chennai high school biology teacher turned homesteader who won the Karamveer Chakra are doing a lot in promoting natural farming, organic farming and permaculture in the state. Education and hands-on training with access to best practices in action does more than elaborate policy documents and frameworks with little on-the-ground grassroots uptake. 

Think Tanks, Conferences and Research: Sharing Best Practices

The M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) in Chennai and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research's Central Institute for Women in Agriculture (ICAR-CIWA), Bhubaneswar have produced some great research on farming in general and methods to support women farmers in particular. 

 

 The MSSRF webinar on Pathways to Gender Justice as part of IWD2026 highlighted gaps and solutions to gender just transition in climate resilient agriculture in India. 

The March 2026 Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems (GCWAS 2026) in New Delhi inaugurated by the President of India Droupadi Murmu in the presence of the Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmer Welfare and  Rural Livelihoods Shivraj Chauhan shone a spotlight on women farmers in India to international audiences while also becoming a repository of best practices and policy support for women farmers. 

Amplifying the voices and the efforts to support women farmers so that those who seek to improve their lives in the agri-food system is essential to ensure food security, human security, climate action and ecological action. Empowered women farmers will be the engines of change in our path to Viksit Bharat and Sustainable Development - locally, nationally and internationally.