Direct answers to the questions asked most often. Each answer refers to the Act where the point comes from.
Mahila Shetkari Praman Patra FAQs
What is the Maharashtra Women Farmers Empowerment Act, 2026?
It is Maharashtra Act No. XLVI of 2026. It was first published in the Maharashtra Government Gazette on 22 July 2026, after the Governor’s assent. It provides for the recognition of women farmers and the issue of Woman Farmer Certificates, so that they can access welfare policies, programmes, schemes and credit. It also creates a women farmers database, a State fund, a Women Farmers Empowerment Council, a Women Farmers Empowerment Cell and a State Monitoring Committee (Section 1 and Sections 10 to 14).
Who can apply?
Any woman who is 18 or older, resident in Maharashtra, living in the area of a Village Panchayat or Nagar Panchayat, and a farmer as defined in the Act (Sections 2(d) and 3). Recognition depends on the Gram Sabha or Nagar Panchayat finding that she carries out at least one of the activities in clauses (a) and (d) of Section 2 (Sections 5(3) and 6(3)).
Is land ownership required?
No. The Act defines a farmer irrespective of the nature of the land (Section 2(d)(i)). The Act does not make land ownership a condition. Women who work on family or leased land, or as labourers, are covered by the definition.
What is the age requirement?
The applicant must be 18 years of age or above (Sections 2(n) and 3).
Which agricultural activities are covered?
Section 2(a) includes crop cultivation, seed production, animal husbandry, poultry, dairy farming, livestock rearing, apiculture, bee-keeping, fodder cultivation, fishing, aquaculture, sericulture, vermiculture, horticulture, floriculture, mushroom cultivation, agro-forestry, grazing or rab-manure use of land, composting, tenurial, share-cropping and shifting cultivation, and minor forest produce collection and sale. The list is inclusive. See the Agricultural Work Types page for the full set.
What documents are required?
The Act does not list the documents an applicant must submit. The application is made in the form and manner prescribed under the Act (Sections 5(1) and 6(1)). Verify the current requirement on the official source before applying.
How do I apply?
Apply to the Designated Officer in the prescribed form and manner. The application is then placed before the Gram Sabha or Nagar Panchayat, which passes a resolution accepting or rejecting it (Sections 5 and 6). The full steps are on the How to Apply page. The online route is stated in the information booklet but is not confirmed in the Act text; verify it on the official source.
Where is the application submitted?
To the Designated Officer (Sections 5(1) and 6(1)). Designated Officers are appointed by State Government notification, at the rank of Assistant Agriculture Officer or above for Village Panchayat areas, and Agriculture Officer or above for Nagar Panchayat areas (Section 4(1)).
How do I check the application status?
The Act does not describe an online status system. Use the time limits on the Application Status page to see when each step should happen. Women Farmers Assistance Officers at block and district level help women obtain the certificate (Section 15).
How is the certificate issued?
The Designated Officer issues the Woman Farmer Certificate within 15 days of a resolution accepting the applicant (Sections 5(4) and 6(4)), or within 15 days of an Appellate Officer’s direction (Sections 5(8) and 6(8)).
What happens after the Gram Sabha review?
The Gram Sabha or Nagar Panchayat passes a resolution accepting or rejecting the application. If accepted, the certificate is issued within 15 days. If rejected, the Designated Officer must inform the applicant in writing within 7 days, giving the reasons, the appeal period and the Appellate Officer’s details (Sections 5(3) to 5(5) and 6(3) to 6(5)).
What happens if the application is rejected?
The applicant receives written reasons. She may appeal to the Appellate Officer within 120 days of the rejection resolution (Sections 5(6)(a) and 6(6)(a)). The Appellate Officer hears the parties and decides within 30 days of the appeal being filed (Sections 5(7) and 6(7)).
Is there an appeal process?
Yes. Appeals go to the Appellate Officer, who must be an officer not below the rank of Taluka Agriculture Officer (Section 4(2)). An appeal can also be filed where the certificate is not issued within 15 days, within 120 days after that period ends (Sections 5(6)(b) and 6(6)(b)).
Can the Gram Sabha recognise a woman who did not apply?
Yes. The Gram Sabha may, by resolution, recognise women within its jurisdiction who are farmers but did not apply, and direct the Designated Officer to issue them certificates (Section 5(3), second proviso). The Nagar Panchayat provisions in Section 6 do not contain the same proviso.
How long is the certificate valid?
It is valid as long as the woman remains a farmer. If she does not continue to be a farmer, she is not entitled to its benefits under the Act and the certificate is deemed to have ceased (Section 7).
Does the certificate automatically give government scheme benefits?
No. The certificate is conclusive proof of identity as a woman farmer for the purposes of the Act (Section 8(1)). Entitlement to benefits follows the policies, programmes and schemes the State notifies, subject to the conditions in each (Section 8(2)). The certificate does not automatically guarantee any individual scheme benefit.
Does the Act change land laws or existing schemes?
No. The information booklet states that the Act does not change land ownership, inheritance or property laws. Under Section 17, the Act is in addition to, and not in derogation of, other laws in force. It does not reduce the existing rights and benefits of men farmers.
Where is the official portal?
The Agriculture Department of the Government of Maharashtra publishes official information. The official application link is not shown on this website until it has been verified against the official source. Check the Official Links page for the current status.