New Delhi, June 21 : Rural women who once had limited access to identity documents and financial services are today travelling across continents, leading enterprises, and training communities abroad. Their remarkable journeys became the highlight of KisaanSay Samagam 2026, the first annual farmers’ gathering organized by KisaanSay at The Ashok Hotel, New Delhi.
The full-day event brought together more than 50 farmers representing 25 Farmer Producer Enterprises (FPEs) from across India, creating a platform for dialogue, recognition, learning, and collaboration among farmers, policymakers, investors, and agricultural experts.
The event was attended by renowned agricultural economist Dr. Ashok Gulati, Padma Shri Dr. Ram Chet Chaudhary, the farmer-scientist credited with reviving the famed Kalanamak rice of eastern Uttar Pradesh, Dr. Maninder Kaur Dwivedi, IAS, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ashish Choudhury, Chief Investment Officer, NABVENTURES, Pawan Agarwal, former CEO of FSSAI and CEO of Food Future Foundation, and Pravir Krishna, former Managing Director of TRIFED.
Leaders Discuss the Future of Indian Agriculture
During the inaugural sessions held before lunch, distinguished speakers shared their perspectives on farmer prosperity, value-added agriculture, Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs), food authenticity, investment, market access, and the role of farmer-owned institutions in transforming India’s agricultural economy.
The discussions highlighted how Farmer Producer Companies, supported by government initiatives and institutions such as NABARD, are creating new opportunities for smallholder farmers by strengthening market linkages, improving value realization, and enabling collective entrepreneurship.
Speakers emphasized that India’s future agricultural growth will depend not only on increasing production but also on creating stronger connections between farmers and consumers through transparent and sustainable supply chains.
From Rajasthan to Africa: A Story of Transformation
The most emotional and inspiring session of the day unfolded after lunch during a panel discussion on “Women Empowerment Through Farmer Enterprises.”
Moderated by award-winning journalist and author Anubha Bhonsle, Founder of Newsworthy, the discussion featured women farmers and leaders from farmer enterprises in Chambal, Joshimath, Gorakhpur, and other regions.
The session showcased extraordinary stories of transformation, highlighting how women-led enterprises are reshaping rural economies and creating new opportunities for leadership.
Among the stories shared was that of women associated with Saheli Producer Company Limited, who reflected on their journey from social exclusion to global engagement.
Participants recounted how many women in their communities once lacked access to basic identity and welfare documents. Today, those same women hold passports, manage enterprises, and participate in international development initiatives.
One of the most inspiring examples was that of Kiran, who travelled to the West African nations of Mali and Senegal in 2017 as part of a 22-day training and knowledge-sharing programme. The visit marked a historic milestone, as rural women from Dholpur and surrounding regions trained African women in livelihood generation, entrepreneurship, and community institution building.
Their experience demonstrated that rural women are no longer merely beneficiaries of development programmes but are increasingly becoming trainers, innovators, and ambassadors of community-led development on the global stage.
Recognising Farmer-Led Success
A major highlight of KisaanSay Samagam was the felicitation of leading Farmer Producer Companies that have played a significant role in expanding the KisaanSay network to more than 50,000 farmers across 10 states.
The awards recognized outstanding contributions in farmer mobilization, quality production, market linkage creation, and women-led enterprise development.
Notably, a large number of the associated farmer enterprises are women-led, reflecting the growing role of women in India’s agricultural value chains.
Building India’s Largest Single-Origin Food Brand
Speaking on the occasion, Nitin Puri, Founder of KisaanSay, said the gathering was designed to celebrate the farmers who remain at the heart of the company’s mission.
“KisaanSay Samagam was a unique experience for our farmers, customers, team members, and stakeholders. Through our partnership with farmers over the last two years, we have successfully built India’s largest Single-Origin Food Brand. This event was an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to both consumers and farmers as we take the KisaanSay movement to the next level,” he said.
Founded by Nitin Puri, Vaishali Mehta, and Manoj Karki, KisaanSay operates on a unique Co-Brand and Co-Profit model that connects consumers directly with farmer enterprises. The company markets authentic, 100% single-origin food products sourced directly from farmer groups across India.
The model aims to address two major challenges in India’s food ecosystem: providing consumers with authentic, source-verified food products while ensuring sustainable and improved livelihoods for farmers.
Strengthening the Farmer–Consumer Connection
As discussions concluded, a common message emerged from the event: empowering farmers—particularly women farmers—through entrepreneurship, collective institutions, and market access can create lasting economic and social impact.
From women who once lived behind traditional social barriers to those now sharing knowledge across continents, KisaanSay Samagam 2026 showcased the transformative power of farmer-owned enterprises and collaborative market-led development.
The event underscored a growing movement within Indian agriculture—one that seeks to build stronger connections between farms and consumers while creating shared value for farmers, communities, and the broader food system.
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