INTRODUCTION:

Agriculture can be an important engine for growth and poverty reduction. But the sector is underperforming in many countries in part because women, who are often a crucial resource in agriculture and the rural economy, face constrain that reduce their productivity. India is basically an agricultural economy country. Among the two main pillars on which India’s economy stands, one of the main pillars is agriculture. The agricultural sector contributes 17.5 percent of the economy’s domestic product (GDP)in developing countries like India.

Agriculture is the main source of live hood of the rural population of India, especially women, who are deeply involved in agriculture.70 percent of India’s population is engaged in agriculture. The agricultural sector accounts for 55 percent of the employment opportunities in the country, of which women occupy a wide area.80 percent of women in India are involved in all economic activities, including 33 percent in the agricultural labour force and 48 percent as self-employed farmers. In the developing world,38 percent of women are in the agricultural labour force. And mostly in developing countries, these women contribute to 60-80 percent of food production. Rural women play multiple roles in India’s economy, especially in agriculture. But despite their significant role in the rural economy, they are deprived in many areas. Their labour is given no value and no dignity. Society is the basis of overall development of a nation. And the structure of this society as a whole depends on the status and status of women. The status of women in ancient India was very good. In later times, men and women participated in all kinds of social and religious events and were treated as equals in the Arya society. In primitive times, while men hunted animals for food, it was women who collected seeds from local plants and started farming. And since then, women have played an important role in crop production, and post-crop work. Many historians believe that women were initiate the art and science of farming. But gradually the status of women began to decline. The word gender came to be used to refer to the female population in society. The main role of women in any society is to ensure stability, progress and long-term development of that country, Despite the significant role of women in agriculture, the primary focus is on one gender, and that is male. Men are entitled to all decisions in this matter. However, studies have shown that women work more in agriculture provides various opportunities for women to work in agriculture. The multifarious roles that women continue to play in agriculture are -sowing seeds, planting seedling, irrigating, spreading fertilizer, weeding, maintaining seedling, harvesting, threshing crops, harvesting or storing crops and marketing crops etc.

OBJECTIVE AND METHODOLOGY:

The main objectives of this study are mentioned below.

1. To find out the role of women in agriculture and its allied fields.

2. To find out main obstacles or problems of women in agriculture.

3. To analyse the gender differences in roles and activities in agricultural sector.

METHODOLOGY:

This study is based on primary as well as secondary data. The secondary data has been collected from several publications of various years, statistical hand book of the districts, Bureau of Applied Economics & Statistics, Government of West Bengal, Economic Review, Human Resource Development Report, District Census Book etc. Primary data sources consist of 10 % household survey of households following random sampling method. The inputs from the conducted interviews and feedback received from Questionnaire survey were analysed against the actual data collected and the literature review.

THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE:

Rural women perform numerous labour-intensive jobs in agricultural field. They are directly attached with summer, rainy and winter season agriculture system. Topographically maximum area of this study area has been considered as mono crop. Rain fed agriculture system is the dominant agricultural practices in this area. There is no irrigation facility for summer and winter cultivation. Women are also expected to collect wood from fields. This wood is being used as a major fuel source for cooking. Clean drinking water is another major problem in rural areas. Like collection of wood, collecting water from remote areas is also the duty of women. Because a rural woman is responsible for farm activities. Keeping of livestock and its other associated activities like milking, milk processing and preparation of ghee are also carried out by the women. Livestock is the primary subsistent activity used to meet household food needs as well as supplement farm incomes. The majority of farms own some livestock. The pattern of livestock strength is mainly influenced by various factors such as farm size, cropping pattern, availability of range –lands including fodder and pasture. Therefore, rural women earn extra income from the sale of milk and animals. Mostly women are engaged in cleaning of animals, sheds, watering and milking the animals. Rural women are also responsible for collection, preparing dung cakes and activity that also brings additional income for poor families. In most of the cases rural women are involved in almost all livestock related activities. Majority of women are involved in shed cleaning and collection of farm yard manure. It is evident that the women are playing a dominant role in the livestock production and management activities. Poultry farming is one of the major sources of rural economy. The rate of women in poultry farming at household level is the central in poultry industry. Even though rural women are not using modern management techniques, such as vaccination and improved feed, but their poultry enterprise is impressive. Every year income from poultry farming has been rising. In order to generate more and more income, rural women often sell all eggs and poultry meat and left nothing for personal use. Due to poverty and lack of required level of proteins most of women have got a very poor health. As a result, most of the women suffer from malnutrition and severe diseases. The study also noted that majority of the rural women are uneducated, unskilled and tradition bounded, therefore their productive capacity is also low and counted as unskilled labour. Rural women have very hectic life. Her work starts from dawn and ends at night. The daily routine works begins from house cleaning, collection of drinking water, dish washing, laundry, preparing food for farming, care of children. She manages these activities very smartly.

Main Obstacles or Problems of Women In Agriculture:

Division of Labour:

Division of labour is a major obstacle in agriculture. In this case, the work of men and women in the society has been divided into their respective fields instead of coordination and cooperative work. Despite them abilities, they are assigned a different role in society. That is, women will do domestic and unpaid work in this case. But in reality, they are the ones who do the various tasks in the agricultural fields.

More Work, Less Pay:

The study says that women do more work than men in agriculture and 80 percent of agricultural work is done by women. But these women sometimes work without pay, sometimes they get very little pay and do the same work as men. One of the biggest obstacles for women in agriculture is not getting proper wages despite working many hours. Article 39(d)of the Indian constitution mentions equal pay for equal work. But its implementation has not been implemented in the workplace.

GENDER BIAS:

In Indian society, gender discrimination is a major obstacle in the proper development of the economy. Although the gender ratio of men and women in India is almost equal, women face various problems in the workplace. There is discrimination in the workplace both in recruitment and promotion. A female worker is not hired on the same basis as a male worker is employed in any job. Different standards have been created for women for different jobs. Apart from this, the disparity in pay is becoming more and more visible, especially in the unorganized sector. Although Article 14 of the Indian constitution provides for equal rights, Article 15(1) provides for non – discrimination. But still discrimination against women still exists in the society.

ILLITERACY AND POVERTY:

As women in rural India are less educated and mostly illiterate, they tend to be engaged in agriculture- related activities. Being uneducated they are not aware of the use of modern technology. Another major problem is poverty rural society the income of each family is very limited. The main income is mainly from agriculture. Apart from agriculture, women are involved in many other professions. Basically, rural women work in agriculture sometimes as farmers and sometimes as women labourers to support the broken family and to put two handfuls of food in the mouth of the children. Many times, they cannot buy seeds to less production and economic growth slows down.

MALNUTRITION AN ILL- HEALTH:

Rural women are mostly victims of malnutrition and ill-health. Almost every family is poverty. Because of cultivation, that grain comes to the mouth. Nutritious food does not go down wall in their stomachs. Because of that their children also suffer from malnutrition. Women are often weakened by lack of nutrition, and are often unable to engage in heavy work such as agriculture.

RECOMMENDATION:

1) Recognition of labour work of working women in the rural economy may be accounted in monetary terms.

2)More facilities should be provided to poor rural women for land, agricultural and livestock extension services.

3) Measures should be taken to enhance women’s literacy rates. A separate education policy for women may serve the purpose.

4) Priority must be given to women in accessing credit on soft terms from banks and others financial institutions for setting up their business, for buying properties, and for house buildings.

5) Women must be aware regarding their existing rights, access to judicial relief and redress, removing discrimination through legal reforms, and providing legal aid, assistance and counselling.

6) Women must be involved in decision making bodies that have the potential to introduce structural changes. This action will bring some changes in the gender relations in the society.

CONCLUSION:

Rural women are the major contributions in agriculture and allied fields. Her work ranges from crop production, livestock production to cottage industry. From household and family maintenance activities, to transporting water, fuel and fodder. Despite such a huge involvement her role and dignity has yet not been recognized. Women’s status is low by all social, economic and political indicators. Women’s wage work is considered a threat to the male ego and women’s engagement in multiple home-based economic activities leads to under remuneration for their work. Women spend long hours fetching water, doing laundry, preparing food and carrying out agricultural duties. The nature and sphere of women’s productivity in the labour market is largely determined by socio-cultural and economic factors. Women do not enter the labour market on equal terms when compared to men. Their occupational choices are also limited due to social and cultural constraints, gender bias in the labour market, and lack of supportive facilities such as child care, transport and accommodation in the formal sector of the labour market. Women’s labour power is considered inferior because of employers predetermined notion of women’s primary role as homemakers. As a result of discrimination against female labour, women are concentrated in the secondary sector of labour market. Their work is low paid, low status, casual and lacks potential upward mobility. For the recognition of women contribution in agriculture and its allied fields are reducing the gender issues. From the above discussion I can easily conclude that the rural women are exploited by landlords for their personal good and enrichment. Women are treated as sub –servant or personal property. In this regard Government must formulate policies to enhance their skills and their works should be counted in economic indicators.

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Received on 15.06.2023 Modified on 21.06.2023

Res. J. Humanities and Social Sciences. 2023;14(2):93-96.

DOI: 10.52711/2321-5828.2023.00019