MSSRF

Explore more about the speakers, participants, and watch the session recordings: mssrf.org/events/reframi…

Key speakers include: Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson, MSSRF (@doctorsoumya) Dr. Nitya Rao, Professor of Gender and Development, University of East Anglia, UK (@nityarao63) Dr. Madhura Swaminathan, Professor, Economic Analysis Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Bangalore (@MadhuraFAS) Aparna Karthikeyan, Independent Journalist and Author (@AparnaKarthi) Sejal Dand, Director, ANANDI Technical Support Unit; Founder Member, Mahila Kisaan Adhikar Manch @MahilaKisan N. Manimekalai, Director, Centre for Women's Development Studies (CWDS) Dr. Uma Mahadevan Dasgupta, Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner, Govt. of Karnataka Dr. Israel Oliver King ED, Ethno-Botanist and Director, Biodiversity, @mssrf

On March 16-17, MSSRF hosted "Reframing the Narrative: A National Media Workshop on Gender and Agri-Food Systems" in Taramani, Chennai. Anchored in the International Year of the Woman Farmer #IYWF2026, this event united journalists from national and regional media houses with MSSRF scientists, field experts, FPO leaders, government representatives, women farmers, and fishers. Participants gained firsthand insights into women's lived realities in agriculture, empowering stories that highlight their resilience and agency in transforming #foodsystems.

IMSc in collaboration with @mssrf announces "Photography for Nature Conservation": talks and photo exhibition celebrating the ecological, cultural, and social value of wetlands on #WorldForestsDay, 21 March at 5pm. All are welcome.

Join us on 21st March, #WorldForestsDay at @IMScChennai!

Remembering Mina Swaminathan, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson, MSSRF reflected on the enduring legacy of her mother, Mina Swaminathan and her influential role in the evolution of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) helping advance early childhood care and support women’s lives across India. Arun Ram, Resident Editor, @timesofindia talked of the role of institutions and media in shaping gender-sensitive narratives, with reflections on the importance of centering women’s experiences in journalism. Setting the context for the panel on “Framing Gender: Storytelling Across Platforms,” with Hanne M. de Bruin, Saurabh Gupta, Aparna Karthikeyan, and Gayatri. The panel spoke of inclusion of women’s voices in the traditional art form - #Kattaikkuttu, gender disparities in newsrooms, gaps in reporting on agrarian distress, the need to move beyond limiting portrayals of women, and the empowering role of community radio. Highlighting that gender-aware storytelling is central to responsible and inclusive communication. Watch the panel discussion here: youtube.com/live/DAxu35LZF…

Timing updated to 2 PM! Join us for this session today at 2:00 PM on YouTube live: youtube.com/live/UrwuKl9a_…

Stakeholders consultations chaired by Collector & CEO ZPO, #Gadchiroli organised by @mssrf to identify opportunities for women farmers to increase productivity, incomes & household nutrition security. Thanks to all participants for their ideas & support

#FiresideChat with Dr. Soumya Swaminathan! On 16 March at 3:30 PM, @doctorsoumya will discuss MSSRF’s work on climate change, heat stress, and women’s labour. Participants are invited to submit questions during this interactive session. Join via YouTube Live: youtube.com/live/UrwuKl9a_… This session forms part of Reframing the Narrative: A Media Workshop on Gender and Agri-food Systems.

To celebrate centenary year of Prof. M. S. Swaminathan, NFI hosted a conversation on a lesser discussed part of his legacy, his role in strengthening civil society institutions in India. #MSS100 @mssrf @PopFoundIndia @doctorsoumya @Letstransform

Join us tomorrow at 11:30 AM! Zoom link: us06web.zoom.us/j/83271545549?…

An honour to participate in the #WomensDay discussion in Maharashtra legislative assembly, where the issues of women farmers lack of entitlements was raised by all speakers, incl Dy CM Sunetra Pawarji. @mssrf & @Vidhi_India have worked on legal & policy level solutions for this

Marking #IWD2026: Pathways to Gender Justice #IYWF2026 MSSRF hosted a webinar on Pathways to Achieve Gender Justice as part of our #GenderInFocus series. @UN_Women's Gender Policy Specialist, Ms. Maria Jones, unpacked global policy frameworks like CEDAW, the Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030), and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995) in the context of women in agri-food systems. She highlighted the Reach, Benefit, Empower Framework's power to design inclusive programs that boost #womenfarmer's agency. "India is among the 15 countries where women in agri-food systems face the highest climate risk," Jones noted. Dr. Divya Veluguri, Executive Director of @DDS_SANGHAMS, shared transformative practices from their work with Dalit and indigenous women farmer sanghams in Telangana. "When we come from a place of privilege, we tell stories of poverty. But when the women tell their stories, they tell stories of dignity," she said—stressing how women's contextual knowledge and community wisdom must shape solutions. ➡️ Watch the full webinar: youtu.be/cZ3kIB0SDvg?si…

A stronger agri-food system begins with empowered women. #GCWAS2026 #YearOfTheWomanFarmer @rashtrapatibhvn@ChouhanShivraj @MinistryWCD @CGIAR @CIMMYT @ICARDA @CIFOR @ICRISAT @CIFOR_ICRAF @RenuSwarup @irri @mssrf @doctorsoumya @FAO @UN

Great initiative by @CMOMaharashtra towards true #genderequality by empowering women farmers. All the legislators who spoke today emphasised the need for legal entitlements & Prof @nityarao63 laid out the elements of a future Bill. @Dev_Fadnavis @ChouhanShivraj @AgriGoI @mssrf

“If we see the villages today, women are taking on the majority of the burden of agriculture, in addition to household chores and childcare,” MSSRF trustee Prof. Nitya Rao said at a seminar on the empowerment of women farmers at the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. She commended Maharashtra’s efforts to promote women in agriculture and expressed optimism about the state’s leadership role going forward. The event was attended by Hon'ble Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Other dignitaries present included Legislative Council Chairman Prof. Ram Shinde, Assembly Speaker Adv. Rahul Narwekar, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chairperson of the Legislative Council Dr. Neelam Gorhe, MSSRF Chairperson Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, along with ministers and other legislators. The event marked a step towards gender equality by highlighting the role and contributions of women farmers. It was also held in the context of the International Year of the Woman Farmer and International Women’s Day 2026. Proud to support this milestone in agricultural empowerment and gender parity. @CMOMaharashtra @Dev_Fadnavis @Prof_RamShinde @rahulnarwekar @mieknathshinde @SunetraA_Pawar @neelamgorhe @doctorsoumya @nityarao63 #WomenInAgriculture #GenderEquality #Maharashtra #InternationalWomensDay #IYWF2026

Join us for a seminar ‘When Water Becomes Reactive: Disintegration of Minerals in Microdroplets’ by Dr. Thalappil Pradeep, Institute Professor, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. @group_pradeep This seminar will outline how charged #water microdroplets could potentially act as a green factory, rapidly disintegrating common minerals into nanoparticles in milliseconds, effectively compressing geological time for sustainable materials discovery. Register here: forms.cloud.microsoft/r/VFftt8eWv9  Zoom details will be shared with participants via email.