Mapping the Role of Women in Indian Agriculture

Women provide crucial support in Indian agriculture and household livelihood; however, they remain confined as workers. Designed farm tools available are mainly used by male farmers, and rural women are left to use traditional tools and procedures resulting in low efficiency, drudgery, occupational health risks, and low income. Their contributions fall under indirect material income and go unacknowledged even in decision making. Illiteracy, lack of knowledge among rural women, improper training, and less opportunity for skill development worsen their subdued existence. Formal education, availability of economically viable agricultural machinery for women, training, extension services, social engineering, and gender budgeting is need of the hour. Gender budgeting would assess the quantity and adequacy of allocation of resources for women and establish the extent to which gender commitments are translated into budgetary commitments. Active participation of rural women would boost their socioeconomic recognition, confidence in economic competence, and promulgate sustainable societal growth.