At the Jan 2008 Science Congress in Vizag, Dr Suman Sahai coordinated a Virtual Congress of Mahila Kissans organised by the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation  (MSSRF), and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The Virtual Congress joined groups of women farmers by satellite link from seven stations in Andhra Pradesh , Tamil Nadu , Orissa, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. The women farmers sought solutions to the  problems they face in their efforts to grow food and feed their families.

As men migrate to the cities to seek work, we are witnessing the increasing feminization of agriculture, as women take on a much larger responsibility for food production.  

A Nine Point Charter of Demands emerged from the discussions of the Virtual Mahila Congress.

1. Title to land: Joint Pattas are absolutely essential for Mahila Kisans to get access to Kisans Credit Cards and institutional credit.

2. Right to Credit both individual and to women self-help groups, and to insurance : New insurance schemes should be started for Mahila Kisans to cover them from occupational hazards, like leptosporosis infection in paddy fields

3. Support services like creches anganwadis, etc. to take into account the multiple burden on a women's such as child rearing, home keeping and income earning activities

4. Access to quality inputs like seeds, organic and mineral fertilizers, extension advice, etc. at the right time and place

5. Training and Capacity Building and imparting quality, genetic, trade and legal literacy; engendering the curricula of agricultural, veterinary and fisheries universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendras. The agricultural university movement will be 50 years during 2008 and it will be appropriate that the gender dimensions are mainstreamed in the curricula.

6. Jal Swaraj or irrigated and domestic water security through training in water harvesting, aquifer recharge and more income per drop of water techniques

7. Meeting the needs of mixed farming, involving crops, livestock, fish and trees; special attention to fodder and feed in the case of livestock, and to seed and feed in the case of aquaculture; appropriate post-harvest technologies for processing, storage, transporting and marketing

8. Assured and remunerative marketing; linking Mahila Kisans to markets, ensuring fair price and timely payment; provision of rural godowns and warehousing facilities; training in safe storage and in sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures

9. Reduction in drudgery and enhancing income per hour of work; farm implements, which can help to enhance work efficiency and reduce drudgery, are urgently needed. Traveling Exhibitions and Knowledge on the Wheels programmes may be organized  to familiarize Mahila Kisans with the gender sensitive implements available in Agricultural Universities, ICAR institutions, IITs and KVKs.