Women Farmers in India – Important but Invisible

They constitute 80% of agricultural workforce...but own only 13% of land. This is why Mahila Kisan Diwas matters.

Every year, India marks the National Women Farmers Day, or Mahila Kisan Diwas, on 15th October. The day seeks to recognise the role of women farmers in agriculture and:

• Enhance inclusion of women in decision-making

• Raise awareness of schemes such as the Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)

• Highlight their role in providing nutritional security

• Giving them equal access to various resources

No doubt, this day serves as a reminder to empower women farmers by ensuring equal opportunities and respecting their role in nation-building.

Role of women in Indian agriculture
Women farmers make up almost 80% of agricultural workforce. They have played a historic & ongoing role in ensuring that farming sustains us & the economy. Their contributions encompass:

• Sowing seeds

• Harvesting

• Animal husbandry

• Ensuring nutrition

• Preserving / storing food

• Sustainability & so on

Despite forming the backbone of Indian agriculture, women farmers face unique challenges.

Obstacles faced by women farmers
There are quite a few challenges that need to be addressed with better policies, community support, and awareness. Few of these challenges include:

1. Land ownership – only about 13% of operational landholdings are owned by women farmers. And because they don’t have land titles, they are categorised as ‘labourers’ or ‘cultivators’ and not as farmers.

2. Access to resources – whether it is technology, financial support, modern farming tools, insurance, mechanisation, or information – women farmers do not have adequate access to them.

3. Social norms – gender stereotyping, and social barriers prevent women from being decision-makers. So, even though they work hard, they don’t have a voice in cropping, sale, cultivation, etc.

4. Work-life balance – women farmers work long hours on various kinds of farming tasks and also have the responsibility of looking after their families.

Inspirations
It is heartening to note that women are making tremendous progress and inspiring other women to become farmers. Take the story of Padma Shri Kamala Pujari, an organic farmer from Odisha – she was the first tribal woman member of the Odisha State Planning Board.

Tamil Nadu is known for its rich tradition of women farmers collectives. These self-help groups are boosting income and self-reliance in several districts. Amul empowers women dairy farmers across Gujarat. One of the world’s largest women-led cooperative works in Kerala – Kudumbashree - is helping thousands of women with vegetable cultivation, and other micro-enterprises.

Why should National Women Farmers Day matter?
An important day such as this matters because it serves as a milestone for all of us to recognise and appreciate the contributions made by women. It also helps policy reform to empower more women to take up farming.

It is safe to say that one day in a year may not be enough to acknowledge the immense contribution of women in agriculture, but National Women Farmers Day is a movement that reminds us of the resilient spirt & importance of women farmers in shoring up India’s food security & economy.

#InterestingInfo

• Women account for anywhere between 60 to 80% of food production in our country.

• Mahila Kisan Diwas was first celebrated on 15th October 2016.