Indian farmers start harvesting their summer-sown crops, such as rice, soybean, cotton, pulses and vegetables usually in mid-September. This year, however, uncharacteristic rainfall has deeply damaged the harvest, risking food inflation in India. While this is an obvious threat, along with others such as flooding due to rainfall, we should be able to spot the latent warning in all these events about the worsening of climate conditions. This unusual rainfall and vice versa—lack of rain—is an obvious manifestation of climate change. Indian Summer Monsoon is the most significant rainfall system—along with the West African Monsoon—and disruptions in this system are, thus, seen as a tipping point in the climate system.

Bringing the focus back to Indian agriculture, our cover story for this issue helps highlight the role that women play in this sector. Women’s contributions to agriculture are largely underestimated and generally overlooked. Although deeper studies may be able to efficiently point out the immensity of women’s work in agriculture, when it comes to common perceptions and depictions, women are yet to be given their due. The popular representations, or rather misrepresentations, in media and culture lead to an erasure of women from this field— which in turn dilutes or negates the issue that farmer may be facing as a whole. It leads to an inaccurate assessment of the sector. This lack of women’s voices, especially in the forefront of the agriculture sector, is symptomatic of the gender problem that we are facing in other sectors as well. It underscores the fact that on-ground technical advancements need to be accompanied with societal awareness as well. Our cover story is a bid to change the stereotype associated with the image of ‘a farmer’ and make it more gender inclusive.

The special feature for this issue also tackles a pertinent environmental issue that is typical of the Indian states—stubble burning. Many researchers and think tanks have shifted their focus towards finding a solution to prevent stubble burning. We are now seeing innovations that help farmers to better deal with the crop residues. A sustainable, profitable and accessible solution for dealing with crop residues is highlighted in the special feature. Hopefully, more such innovative resolutions will follow in the near future.

We must join our efforts and hopes to nurture the dwindling health of our planet; our home, ensuring that a happier healthier future is visible on the horizon.