Daughters Of Soil: Celebrating The Invisible Contribution Of Women Farmers

Today, rural women are leading the way towards India’s social, economic, and environmental development, yet their contributions and roles in ensuring food and nutrition security are frequently undervalued.

India's economy is made up of 13.5 per cent of agriculture-related GDP, which accounts for 45.6 per cent of all jobs in the nation. In this industry, women make up about 75 per cent of the workforce.

Gender inequities have often confined women to subservient roles where they’re often seen as helpers to the male family members, most of whom own the land or have migrated to urban cities in quest of greater economic possibilities. Empowering women and eliminating gender biases is not only morally right but also a critical tool in the fight against poverty, hunger and malnutrition.

Women in agriculture

In rural areas, women are often responsible for providing food, water, and fuel for their families because of which they have a sound understanding of the local environments. Despite this, they face significant discrimination when it comes to land and livestock ownership, equal pay, participation in decision-making entities, and access to resources, credit and market.

It is important to recognise and value the role of women in managing natural resources within families.

Women's knowledge and skills should be leveraged to promote sustainable management of natural resources and to develop policies that consider the needs of women and their families. Moreover, recognising and supporting women's role in natural resource management can have broader benefits for communities and the environment. Women are often more attuned to the local environment, and their knowledge can help to identify and address environmental challenges. Additionally, empowering women can contribute to poverty reduction, food security, and improved health outcomes.

Every working person needs some kind of incentive or motivation to work harder and produce better results, and rural women shouldn't be denied this chance just because of their gender. In order to honour women farmers, we must acknowledge and recognise their contributions to agriculture and food production. It is admirable that the government recognises women farmers on Rashtriya Mahila Kisan Divas (Women's Farmers' Day) each year.

How to support women-led farming?

We can contribute to the upliftment of women farmers too. Supporting women-led farming organisations can help to provide women farmers with access to information, resources, and networks that they may not have otherwise. These groups can support the cause of policies that cater to the needs of female farmers. It is challenging for female farmers to make investments in their operations and increase production because they frequently lack access to loans and other financial resources. Financial assistance can aid in bridging this divide and allow female farmers to make investments in their farms.

As consumers, we can support women farmers by buying from them directly or through local markets. By doing this, we can help to create a market for their products and ensure that they receive fair prices for their produce. Access to technology and training can also help women farmers to improve their agricultural practices and increase their productivity. Providing training on topics such as sustainable agriculture, climate-smart agriculture, and financial management can help to empower women farmers.

Rural women are technically ineligible to get institutional help from banks, insurance, cooperatives, and government departments because neither the farming sector nor the policy framework acknowledges the labour they perform. We need to value our women farmers and not take their efforts and skills for granted. Everyone should be able to experience the fruits of their labour; let’s not be the ones who put these rural women through feelings of hopelessness and despair.

Supriya Patil is an environmental expert at Grow-Trees.com. The views expressed are the author’s own.

Suggested Reading: How Women Entrepreneurship Is The Way Forward For India’s Agri-Business Boom