Since the day agriculture ever  existed, participation of women was imperative along with male counterparts. Farming is playing significant role in economy, especially in rural, role of women is becoming more crucial. Extent of women participation varies with type of crops grown, stage of crops, age of the women, their ethnic value, etc. As per the reports of FAO (Food Agriculture Organization), women contribute 43% of labor force in the world. In Indian scenario, as per the Annual Periodic Labor Force Survey (PLFS) Report 2021-22, the estimated contribution of female workers at All-India level in agriculture sector is 62.9%.

Women In Agriculture: The Greater Role to Play

Problems are in plenty

                  No doubt, women's involvement in farming as labor  is considerably high and significant. But if we take women as owner or cultivator of the land, their share is as less as  15% in the world, out of which about one forth of the total  holdings are small and marginal. Women as Agriculture entrepreneurs is still a rare phenomena.

            In many instances, women as owner of land is mere namesake, depend mainly on male member while taking all important decisions.  The decisions  like selection of crops, marketing of produce, reinvestment of profit are mainly taken by male mates. It is quite obvious, when actual owner of the land fails to participate and perform, the productivity suffers. Having no land or small pieces of land, it is very difficult for women to have access to agriculture credit, thus purchase of of inputs like fertilizer, pesticides, modern tools and equipment. As per the opinion of FAO, women owned farms yield 10 percent lesser  when compare to that of men and the same is not because of lack of aptitude of farming, but of gender specific obstacles that women face.

         Though the women are integral part of agriculture labor force, they are often discriminated to pay less in terms of  wages.  The difference has been  estimated 30% lesser than their male coworker. 

          The agricultural activities  in which men participate  looks important and need some sort of skills and stamina, like ploughing and preparation of land. But women participate in all those works which needs patience and composure. Here also,  men are the one to decide what are the farming activities women are part of. Operations like sowing, weeding, watering and others are often women- centric . Men go to rest and have enough   leisure, after certain farm works get over and returns only during harvesting. But for the  women,  her presence in the field is continuous and never ending, from sowing to harvesting and even in post harvest stages. Her troubles do not end here, domestic works like, taking care of family, preparation of food, taking care of live stocks, collection of wood and fuels are the works waits for her.

              As per the report of Economic survey 2017-18, growing migration of  rural men to urban area leading to "Feminization's of Agriculture".  Rural men, especially youth, having more academic qualifications, showing large scale shift to urban areas in search of better livelihood, leaving only women and aged members back home. This has led the situation that , women has to play greater role to play in farming sector as cultivator and decision maker. Definitely it has long lasting benefits and increase the productivity of land to greater extent.

        Climatic change is a worldwide phenomenon, causing great threat to human existence and the same has become frequently discussed topic in world scenario. UN Climate Change News, published on 8 March 2023, has emphasized the greater role to be played by women in tackling the situation. UN is of the opinion that, women make up nearly half of the agricultural labor force in developing countries. When provided with the same access to resources as men, women can increase their agricultural yields by 20 to 30 percent. This boosts in productivity,  to not only improve total agricultural output by 2.5 to 4 percent, but it can also help to reduce world hunger by 12 to 17 percent, according to the UN.

                  Rural women are close to nature and their contribution to conserve the same is commendable. Usually women as cultivator, use conventional method of farming , making best use of natural resources, thus causing less threat to environment. It is very rare to see the veranda of rural house vacant , but occupied with varieties of fruit, flowering and vegetable plants , medicinal herbs, just because of the efforts of household women. Urban women are not lagging far behind here, very enthusiastic  in terrace type of garden and kitchen gardens. Women, owning small piece of land, with less or no commercial intent, produce variety of crops to meet the family requirement, add a lot to biodiversity.

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Enhanced role of women in Agriculture

        Governments initiatives and efforts are is very important to make farming is more profitable to women.  Government's measures in this regard is quite heartening. Some of the beneficiary oriented schemes which involves earmarking of 30% additional funds, over and above the male beneficiaries. Such schemes include, supporting of women participation in food security groups, undertaking of study in critical thrust area related to women in agriculture. delivery of gender sensitive modules on learning through learning programmer at national/region/ state level, compilation and documentation of gender friendly tools and technologies, publishing farm women friendly handbook and compilation of best practices and inspirational success stories of the women farmers.

              Various beneficiary oriented schemes by the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW), under Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare have been launched to provide States and any other Implementation agencies to incur at least 30% expenditure on women farmers. These schemes include, National Food Security Mission, National Mission on Oil seed & Oil Palm, National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture, Sub-Mission for Seed and Planting Material, Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization and Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture.

              The Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development, launched a specific scheme like ‘Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)’, as a subcomponent of DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana — National Rural Livelihoods Mission) in 2011. The Purpose of the programme is to empower women by making systematic investments to enhance their participation and productivity, thus to create sustainable livelihoods for them.

                To make women aware of latest techniques in agriculture and allied sectors, trainings are being imparted under schemes of Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Ministry of Rural Development.

              Thus, women have to play greater role in farming sector to reduce the hunger, poverty and malnutrition. An empowered woman with enough resources like land, capital, education and training in farming practices, become great asset to rural society. It is a way out solve the evils like gender inequality, her vulnerability to climatic change, victimization to domestic violences and other. Obstacle free and financially stable woman improves the standards of education, health care and nutrition of not only family, but also the community. According to FAO, increased involvement of women in agriculture, can bring 150 million more people in the world, out of hunger.

Government Assistance to The Women Farmers: The Indian Scenario