Understanding the immediate priorities to empower women in the Indian agriculture sector
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Understanding the immediate priorities to empower women in the Indian agriculture sectorBy Nitin Chaudhary, ET CONTRIBUTORS
Last Updated: Apr 03, 2021, 11:32 AM IST
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Synopsis
Presently, the agriculture sector employs 80% of all economically active women in India, which includes 48% of the self-employed farmers and 33% of the agriculture labour force.
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Despite women’s participation as self-employed entrepreneurs in agriculture and allied sectors accounting for about 25%, it is saddening that for most part, they are not viewed as farmers
The Government of India in its Economic Survey in 2018 noted that the agricultural sector is undergoing feminization, a term used to indicate how increasingly a large number of women are taking up roles as entrepreneurs, cultivators and labourers. Presently, the agriculture sector employs 80% of all economically active women in India
Women Farmers Being Denied Their Due: Activists
But the government claims support and assistance to women farmers provided over and above male farmers under several schemes
Representational Mar 11, 2021
Despite the contribution of women to farming, their labour is seldom recognized and they hardly get the benefit of schemes, point out activists.
Days after farmers protesting against the Centre’s three new agriculture laws celebrated “Women Farmers’ Day”, many say it is time for equal opportunity and rights.
According to the Mahila Kisan Adhikar Manch, women farmers attend to 75% of agriculture-related work, yet own only 12% of farmland.
The Left-leaning All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) has been demanding that women farmers should also be recognized as farmers, “but the government is not ready to accept this,” alleged Subhashini Ali in a newsletter.