Answer

The feminisation of agriculture refers to the growing involvement of women in agricultural activities, primarily driven by male out migration and economic distress. Despite women contributing over 42% of the agricultural workforce, they continue to face limited land ownership and decision-making power. While this trend indicates a shift in rural labor dynamics, it also highlights persistent gender inequalities, raising concerns about whether this shift truly leads to empowerment.

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Growing Trend of Feminisation of Agriculture in India

• Increase in Women’s Participation in Agricultural Workforce:As per PLFS 2023-24,  Over three-quarter(76.95%) of rural women are now engaged in agriculture, indicating a significant rise in their role as cultivators and laborers. However, their land ownership remains minimal.
  For example: The Agriculture Census 2015-16 showed that 73% of rural women are engaged in agriculture.
• Rising Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLPR): The rural FLPR increased from 41.5% (2022-23) to 47.6% (2023-24), reflecting women’s growing presence in agricultural work, largely due to economic necessity and migration patterns.
  For example: In states with increased FLPR, such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, women have taken up agricultural activities due to male out migration to urban areas.
• Shift in Women’s Roles from Helpers to Smallholder Cultivators: With declining male presence in farms, women have transitioned from wage laborers to independent cultivators, taking up managerial responsibilities in farming.
  For example: In Andhra Pradesh, several women-run self-help groups (SHGs) have emerged, where female farmers now engage in organic farming and direct marketing of produce.
• Predominance of Self-Employment in Agriculture: Due to limited non-farm job opportunities, many rural women engage in agriculture not by choice but due to necessity, reinforcing their dependency on farming for survival.
  For example: In Rajasthan, women-run dairy farms have increased as alternative income sources, but many still lack decision-making authority over land and resources.
• Persistent Gender Disparity in Agricultural Land Ownership: Despite growing participation, land ownership remains concentrated with men, restricting women’s access to credit, government schemes, and financial security.
  For example: The 2017 Uttar Pradesh Land Distribution Programme gave land titles to 331 families, but only 7% were allotted to single women, highlighting gender bias in land rights.

Factors Contributing to the Feminisation of Agriculture

• Male Out Migration to Non-Farm Sectors: The decline of agricultural income and the growth of urban industries have pushed men to migrate, leaving women to manage farms in their absence.
• Structural Transformation of the Indian Economy: As the agricultural sector shrinks and the service sector expands, fewer men remain in agriculture, forcing women to take up farm responsibilities.
  For example: In Punjab, the focus on mechanization and contract farming has shifted men toward industrial and service jobs, increasing women’s presence in agriculture.
• Economic Distress: Many rural women lack access to alternative employment, making agriculture their only livelihood option, despite low productivity and financial instability.
  For example: In Odisha, women have taken up subsistence farming and animal husbandry, but low incomes and unpaid labor prevent economic empowerment.
• Climate Change and Increased Risks in Agriculture: Climate-related challenges like droughts and unpredictable rainfall have increased migration, leaving women responsible for adopting resilient farming practices.
  For example: In Madhya Pradesh, female farmers are now adopting drought-resistant crops, but without land ownership, they struggle to access government aid.
• Gendered Division of Agricultural Work: Traditionally, women have been confined to less profitable farm tasks like sowing, weeding, and post-harvest processing, reinforcing their subordinate role.
  For example: In West Bengal, women working in paddy fields have limited involvement in market transactions and financial decisions, which are still controlled by men.

How It Leads to Women’s Empowerment

• Increased Workforce Participation and Economic Contribution: Women’s participation in agriculture has led to greater economic involvement, improving their financial stability and household contributions.
  For example: The rural Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLPR) increased from 41.5% in 2022-23 to 47.6% in 2023-24, showing more women entering the workforce.
• Development of Agricultural Skills and Knowledge: As women take on farming roles, they develop expertise in crop management, irrigation techniques, and market dynamics, enhancing their technical knowledge.
  For example: Women in self-help groups (SHGs) in Andhra Pradesh have been trained in organic farming and pest management, leading to better productivity and income.
• Emergence of Women as Smallholder Cultivators: Many women have transitioned from farm laborers to smallholder cultivators, allowing them greater control over production and income.
  For example: In Bihar’s Jeevika project, women engaged in SRI (System of Rice Intensification) farming have doubled their crop yields, improving food security and household earnings.
• Access to Government Support and Agricultural Schemes: Women’s involvement has encouraged policies supporting female farmers, improving access to subsidies, training, and financial aid.
  For example: The Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) provides women with training in sustainable agriculture, helping them increase productivity and income.
• Greater Social Recognition of Women in Agriculture: With more women in farming, their role in decision-making and community leadership has increased, fostering social empowerment.
  For example: In Kudumbashree groups in Kerala, women have taken up collective farming, ensuring better bargaining power and community leadership roles.

How It Reinforces Existing Gender Disparities

• Limited Land Ownership and Control: Despite their agricultural role, women own only 11.72% of the total operated land area, restricting their access to credit and subsidies.
• Unequal Access to Agricultural Technology and Resources: Women often lack access to modern farming techniques, machinery, and irrigation facilities, reducing their productivity and efficiency.
• Lack of Decision-Making Power: Even when women work on farms, men often control decisions on crops, fertilizers, and market sales, limiting women’s autonomy.
  For example: In Punjab and Haryana, male family members control decisions on high-value crops, while women work on lower-paying manual farm tasks.
• Double Burden of Work: Women engaged in farming still handle household responsibilities, leading to longer work hours and physical exhaustion without proportional economic gains.
• Higher Vulnerability to Agrarian Distress: Male out migration leaves women responsible for farming in climate-affected regions, with little financial security or alternative employment opportunities.
  For example: In Vidarbha, Maharashtra, widows of farmers who committed suicide struggle with debt repayment and legal land ownership issues.

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Way Ahead

• Ensuring Equal Land Rights and Ownership for Women: Policies must ensure women’s legal rights to land, allowing them access to credit, government schemes, and decision-making power.
• Improving Access to Modern Farming Technology: Governments and NGOs must train women in mechanized farming and provide them with affordable access to technology.
  For example: The SEWA organization in Gujarat has trained rural women in using solar-powered irrigation pumps, improving productivity.
• Expanding Non-Farm Employment Opportunities: Diversifying rural employment beyond agriculture can provide better-paying jobs and reduce economic distress among women.
  For example: The Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) promotes small-scale entrepreneurship, encouraging women to engage in handicrafts and dairy farming.
• Gender-Responsive Agricultural Policies: Women-centric policies must address access to credit, crop insurance, and climate adaptation, ensuring sustainable empowerment.
  For example: The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) has introduced special provisions for female farmers to access irrigation schemes.
• Shifting Societal Perceptions of Female Farmers: Recognizing women as equal contributors in agriculture can challenge gender biases and improve their social status.
  For example: The “Kisan Sakhi” initiative in Maharashtra promotes women-led farmer groups, giving them market visibility and leadership roles.

The feminisation of agriculture offers an opportunity to address gender inequalities, but it requires structural reforms. Ensuring equal access to resources, promoting women’s leadership in decision-making, and enhancing financial independence will transform this trend into a catalyst for empowerment, reducing disparities and driving inclusive agricultural growth.

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