By Rajesh Aggarwal
It is ironical that when about a third of all cultivators and about 47 percent of agricultural laborers in the country are women, they are not even recognized as farmers, as per data compiled by United Nations Organization. Even the Census conducted by the government excluded them from formal definition of ‘Worker’.
It is recognized by almost everyone, not just in India but across the world, that women lead to an increase in the farm output and the yields. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization says that if women farmers have similar access to modern productive resources as their male counterparts, they can have 20-30 percent higher yields from their farms.
Even the famous agricultural scientist Dr. M. S. Swaminathan has stated that women were the ones domesticated crop plants first. It was women who established the art and science of farming. The men went out hunting for food; women gathered seeds from nearby plants and started growing them for various needs like food, fodder and even fuel. Swaminathan also says that women have been very scientific in their approach and have used proper organic recycling on the farm and have been instrumental in maintaining genetic resistance of the crops. Thus they have played a very important role in conservation of key life support systems of land and water.
The Current Role and Benefits of Women in Agriculture
The state and health of agriculture in India cannot be imagined without the role and contrition of women. According to the latest Census figures, about 90-100 million women are engaged in agriculture in the country and the agricultural output cannot be maintained without their contribution. About 85 percent of rural women depend on agriculture for their livelihood in rural India. This is excluding women who are engaged in livestock, fisheries and other allied activities.
It is high time we recognized them as farmers and also gave them support to carry on their livelihood through agriculture by way of inputs like modern agricultural techniques, better knowhow and seeds, and an overall conducive environment at the grassroots level.
Read more: It is time we recognize women as farmers
By Rajesh Aggarwal
It is ironical that when about a third of all cultivators and about 47 percent of agricultural laborers in the country are women, they are not even recognized as farmers, as per data compiled by United Nations Organization. Even the Census conducted by the government excluded them from formal definition of ‘Worker’.
It is recognized by almost everyone, not just in India but across the world, that women lead to an increase in the farm output and the yields. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization says that if women farmers have similar access to modern productive resources as their male counterparts, they can have 20-30 percent higher yields from their farms.
Even the famous agricultural scientist Dr. M. S. Swaminathan has stated that women were the ones domesticated crop plants first. It was women who established the art and science of farming. The men went out hunting for food; women gathered seeds from nearby plants and started growing them for various needs like food, fodder and even fuel. Swaminathan also says that women have been very scientific in their approach and have used proper organic recycling on the farm and have been instrumental in maintaining genetic resistance of the crops. Thus they have played a very important role in conservation of key life support systems of land and water.
The Current Role and Benefits of Women in Agriculture
The state and health of agriculture in India cannot be imagined without the role and contrition of women. According to the latest Census figures, about 90-100 million women are engaged in agriculture in the country and the agricultural output cannot be maintained without their contribution. About 85 percent of rural women depend on agriculture for their livelihood in rural India. This is excluding women who are engaged in livestock, fisheries and other allied activities.
It is high time we recognized them as farmers and also gave them support to carry on their livelihood through agriculture by way of inputs like modern agricultural techniques, better knowhow and seeds, and an overall conducive environment at the grassroots level.
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