Women in Agriculture: Driving Growth and Rural Empowerment

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Image Source : downtoearth.org.in


Introduction

Women in agriculture have once again come into focus with recent data highlighting their growing role in the sector, but also the persistent challenges they face. The latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS 2023–24) has shown a significant increase in women’s participation, even as many continue to remain unpaid or under-recognised for their work. This development has sparked renewed debate on how women’s contributions to farming can be better acknowledged and supported.

More broadly, women have long been integral to India’s agriculture, which remains the largest source of their employment. From sowing and harvesting to allied activities, their presence is deeply woven into the fabric of rural livelihoods. Yet, despite their visible role, systemic barriers relating to land ownership, wages, and access to resources continue to shape their experiences. Understanding both the progress and the gaps is crucial to framing policies that make agriculture more inclusive and equitable.


Current Status of Women in Agriculture

1. Employment Trends

  • 135% increase in women's employment in agriculture over the past decade.

  • Women now constitute over 42% of the agricultural workforce.

  • Two out of every three working women are employed in agriculture.

2. Unpaid Work

  • 59.1 million women in agriculture are unpaid family workers as of 2023–24.

  • In Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, more than 80% of women workers are in agriculture, with over half being unpaid.

  • In Rajasthan, 69% of women agricultural workers are unpaid.

3. Land Ownership & Income Inequality

  • Women own 13–14% of agricultural land holdings.

  • Women earn 20–30% less than men for equivalent work in agriculture.

4. Sectoral Participation in High-Export Crops

  • Tea: 61% women, 39% men

  • Spices: 49% women, 51% men

  • Rice, Wheat, Millets: Approximately 47–53% women

  • Fruits, Berries & Vegetables: 38% women, 62% men

  • Meat, Dairy & Poultry: 18% women, 82% men

5. Global Trade Opportunities

  • The India–U.K. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is projected to boost agricultural exports by 20%.

  • Women are well-positioned to transition into higher-value roles in processing, packaging, branding, and exporting.

6. Digital Inclusion & Financial Literacy

  • 2.05 crore Farmer IDs have been created as of February 2024, with a target of 11 crore by 2026–27.

  • Digital Sakhi program has trained rural women in digital and financial literacy across 7 states.


Causes for Increased Women Participation in Agriculture

  • Male Migration to Cities: Many men migrate to urban areas for better-paying jobs, leaving women to manage farms.

  • Economic Necessity: Rural households often rely on women to maintain agricultural work to ensure family income.

  • Decline in Male Labour in Agriculture: Mechanization and shift to non-agricultural sectors reduce male presence in farming.

  • Government Schemes and Support: Policies and rural employment programs encourage women’s participation in agricultural activities.

  • Changing Societal Attitudes: Increasing acceptance of women’s roles in agriculture and rural livelihoods supports their growing presence.

  • Technological Empowerment: Access to digital tools, mobile advisories, and training enhances women’s capacity to work efficiently in farming.

  • Institutional Support: Self-help groups, cooperatives, and producer organizations provide women with better access to credit, markets, and resources.

  • Entrepreneurial Opportunities: Women increasingly move from low-value farm work to roles in processing, packaging, and marketing agricultural products.


Significance of Women in Agriculture

  • Major Workforce Contribution: Women constitute a significant portion of the agricultural workforce, often performing essential farm operations from planting to harvesting.

  • Food Security: Women play a key role in ensuring household and national food security through crop production, livestock management, and post-harvest activities.

  • Rural Economy Support: Women’s labor sustains the rural economy, contributing to both farm productivity and income generation.

  • Family and Community Welfare: Women manage subsistence crops, kitchen gardens, and livestock, directly impacting nutrition and well-being of families.

  • Adaptability and Resilience: Women adapt to changing agricultural practices, climate variability, and market demands, showing resilience in resource-limited settings.

  • Link to Sustainable Practices: Women often engage in traditional and sustainable farming practices, including organic farming, seed preservation, and soil conservation.

  • Pathway to Entrepreneurship: Increasing participation allows women to move into higher-value activities like processing, marketing, and agribusiness management.

  • Multiplier Effect: Empowering women in agriculture leads to broader social and economic benefits, including education, health, and financial stability for communities.


Challenges Faced by Women in Agriculture

  • Unpaid Work: Nearly half of women in agriculture work as unpaid family laborers, limiting financial independence.

  • Low Wages: Women earn 20–30% less than men for equivalent agricultural work.

  • Limited Land Ownership: Women own only 13–14% of agricultural land holdings, restricting access to credit and institutional support.

  • Lack of Decision-Making Power: Women often have minimal say in crop choice, resource allocation, and farm management.

  • Limited Access to Credit and Finance: Difficulty in obtaining loans, insurance, and government subsidies hampers investment in agriculture.

  • Technology Gap: Low digital literacy and limited access to devices prevent women from fully utilizing modern agricultural tools.

  • Social and Cultural Barriers: Traditional gender norms restrict women’s mobility, participation in training programs, and engagement in market activities.

  • Health and Physical Burden: Long working hours, manual labor, and lack of support increase physical strain and affect health.

  • Vulnerability to Market Risks: Women have limited access to high-value markets, making them more vulnerable to price fluctuations and income instability.

  • Climate and Environmental Challenges: Women often face disproportionate impacts of climate change, water scarcity, and soil degradation.


Opportunities and Potential for Women in Agriculture

  • High-Value Roles: Women can move from unpaid farm labor to higher-margin activities such as processing, packaging, branding, and exporting.

  • Export-Oriented Agriculture: Trade agreements like the India–U.K. FTA are projected to boost agricultural exports by 20%, offering women opportunities in export-focused value chains.

  • Strong Representation in Key Crops: Women dominate sectors like tea (61%) and have significant participation in spices (49%), rice, wheat, and millets (~47–53%), positioning them well for value-added roles.

  • Digital Platforms: Tools like eNAM, mobile advisory services, and voice-assisted apps help women access markets, knowledge, and financial services.

  • AI and Multilingual Tools: AI-enabled platforms like BHASHINI and Jugalbandi expand access to information in multiple languages, improving productivity.

  • Training Programs: Initiatives like Digital Sakhi have trained rural women in digital and financial literacy across 7 states, enhancing their ability to manage farm operations and market linkages.

  • Potential in Organic and Specialty Crops: Rising global demand for organic produce, millets, and superfoods offers women-led businesses opportunities in processing and branding.

  • Transition to Entrepreneurship: With targeted training and access to credit, women can become producers and entrepreneurs, moving from unpaid labor to income-generating roles.


Government Efforts Supporting Women in Agriculture

  • Skill Development: Under PMKVY 4.0, over 1.64 crore individuals have been trained, with more than 1.29 crore certified, including programs in agriculture.

  • Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs): 10,000 FPOs have been formed, with 810 FPOs comprising 100% women members. Out of 19.8 lakh registered farmers in FPOs, 6.86 lakh are women.

  • Women-Led Self-Help Groups (SHGs): The Namo Drone Didi scheme targets 15,000 women-led SHGs between 2024–2026, with potential additional income of ₹1 lakh per year per SHG.

  • Natural Farming Promotion: National Mission on Natural Farming supports women SHGs, including Krishi Sakhis and Pashu Sakhis.

  • Financial Assistance Programs: Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana in Bihar provides ₹10,000 each to 75 lakh women, with additional support up to ₹2 lakh for livelihood activities, including agriculture.

  • Capacity Building and Training: Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) enhances women’s participation and productivity in agriculture.

  • Support for Women Cooperatives: Schemes like Swayamshakti Sahakar Yojana and Nandini Sahakar provide financial assistance and capacity development to women cooperatives.

  • Research and Policy Initiatives: Collaborative projects study the role of Farmer Producer Organizations in promoting sustainable livelihoods for women in agriculture.


Best Global Practices for Women in Agriculture

  • Land Ownership and Inheritance Rights: Many countries, including Rwanda and Kenya, have policies ensuring joint or individual land ownership for women, improving access to credit and decision-making.

  • Access to Credit and Financial Services: In Bangladesh and Nepal, women farmers receive targeted microloans and savings schemes, enabling investment in seeds, equipment, and small enterprises.

  • Farmer Cooperatives and Producer Groups: Countries like Thailand and Vietnam have women-led cooperatives that provide collective bargaining power, market access, and shared resources.

  • Digital and Mobile Technologies: Programs in Kenya, Ghana, and Philippines use mobile advisory services, weather alerts, and e-markets to connect women farmers to information and buyers.

  • Capacity Building and Training: Nations such as Brazil and Ethiopia have rural training programs focused on sustainable agriculture, financial literacy, and entrepreneurial skills for women.

  • Promotion of High-Value and Niche Crops: Countries like Morocco and Peru encourage women to engage in organic farming, spices, and specialty crops, enhancing income and export potential.

  • Gender-Sensitive Agricultural Policies: Governments in Uganda and Malawi include women in agricultural policy formulation, subsidies, and extension services, ensuring their needs are addressed.

  • Social Protection Programs: Countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia combine rural employment programs with health, education, and social support for women farmers.


Recommendations / Way Forward

1. Land Ownership and Legal Recognition

  • Promote joint or individual land ownership for women to enhance access to credit, insurance, and government support.

  • Simplify inheritance and registration processes to ensure women are recognized as independent farmers.

2. Financial Inclusion and Credit Access

  • Provide targeted microloans and low-interest credit to women farmers.

  • Ensure easier access to government subsidies, insurance, and grants for women-led agricultural enterprises.

3. Skill Development and Training

  • Conduct agriculture-specific training programs focused on modern techniques, digital literacy, and value addition.

  • Offer entrepreneurial and marketing training to enable women to move into high-value agricultural roles.

4. Technology and Digital Tools

  • Expand mobile advisory services, AI-based platforms, and e-markets for women farmers.

  • Provide affordable access to agricultural machinery suitable for women, reducing physical strain.

5. Market Access and Value Chains

  • Encourage women to participate in processing, packaging, branding, and exports.

  • Promote women-led Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) for collective bargaining and better market access.

6. Crop Selection Based on Physical Considerations

  • Encourage cultivation of high-value but less labor-intensive crops suitable for women:

    • Vegetables: tomatoes, leafy greens, capsicum, beans

    • Fruits: strawberries, papaya, guava

    • Spices and herbs: turmeric, ginger, mint, coriander

    • Millets and pulses: moong, masoor, foxtail millet

    • Flowers and medicinal plants: marigold, aloe vera, tulsi

  • Focus on crops that require less heavy manual labor, have shorter harvesting cycles, or allow processing at home.

7. Policy and Institutional Support

  • Implement gender-sensitive agricultural policies at state and national levels.

  • Strengthen women’s participation in decision-making bodies, cooperatives, and FPOs.

  • Provide social protection programs, including health, childcare, and education support, to reduce burden on women farmers.

8. Awareness and Advocacy

  • Promote campaigns to recognize women’s contribution in agriculture.

  • Encourage community participation to challenge social and cultural barriers limiting women’s roles.


Conclusion

Women are the backbone of India’s agricultural sector, contributing significantly to farm labor, food security, and rural livelihoods. Despite their vital role, a large proportion remain unpaid, under-recognized, and face barriers in land ownership, credit access, and decision-making. Reports such as the National Commission for Women’s (NCW) 2023 report and studies by the FAO highlight that empowering women farmers can substantially increase productivity and rural incomes, while promoting gender equity.

Global experiences and national initiatives, including recommendations from the Committee on Doubling Farmers’ Income (2018), emphasize the need for women-specific policies, skill development, digital access, and participation in high-value agriculture. Recognizing women as independent farmers and providing institutional support can transform India’s agricultural landscape, ensuring both economic growth and social empowerment. Investing in women is not just an equity issue but a strategic imperative for sustainable agriculture and rural development.


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