Opportunities and Challenges of Rural Women in Agricultural Production

Abstract

In agriculture about half of the labour force is being accounted for by females. Females in agriculture households assist the farmers in fields as well as in household activities. As female participation in agriculture production has been under-estimated the unpaid labour must be closely integrated into general analysis of labour. In addition to being domestic labour, women contribute to the agricultural labour force and also act as reserves for the job market. Women are overburdened and this is detrimental to the health status of women. In the present paper an attempt has been made to assess the contribution, challenges and recommendations of rural women in agricultural production.

Rural women are the major contributors in agriculture and its allied fields. Her work ranges from crop production, livestock production to cottage industry. From household and family maintenance activities, to transporting water, fuel and fodder. Despite such a huge involvement, her role and dignity has yet not been recognized. Women’s status is low by all social, economic, and political indicators. Women spend long hours fetching water, doing laundry, preparing food, and carrying out agricultural duties. Not only are these tasks physically hard and demanding, they also rob girls of the opportunity to study. The nature and sphere of women’s productivity in the labour market is largely determined by socio-cultural and economic factors. Women do not enter the labour market on equal terms when compared to men. Finally it is concluded that the rural women are exploited by land lords for their personal good and enrichment. Women are treated as sub-servant or personal property. In this regard government must formulate policies to enhance their skills and their work should be counted in economic indicators.

Keywords: agriculture, consumption, domestic labour, livestock management, cooperatives, constraints

JEL Classification: A10