Enhancing rice productivity through women participation

Abstract

The Indian economy is mostly dependent on agriculture. Almost, 70% of India's population are living in rural areas is engaged in agriculture. Rural women are actively participating in all range of agricultural activities including pre-harvesting, post-harvesting and storage. Growing rice is a labour-intensive undertaking, requiring physically-demanding work throughout the cropping season and the contribution of women to rice cultivation is significantly more than men. In rice cultivation, except for seedbed and land preparation, fertilizer spraying, pesticide application and irrigating the fields, women dominate rice operations. Despite women’s important contributions in rice farming and livelihoods, women have less access than men to knowledge and skills, decision making, resources, productive assets, including land, credit, agricultural extension services, agricultural inputs like improved seeds, fertilisers and small equipment/light machinery, drudgery etc. Therefore, it is necessary to study the condition of farm women to assess their contribution and the difficulty they face in rice farming. They must be supplied with opportunities for self development and self employment. This is the best way to make use of the natural and potential capabilities of rural women. Usually there is gap between the scientific knowledge about the crop and scientific adoption. The best way to bridge this gap is to vigorously utilize the scientific expertise of KVKs (Krishi Vigyan Kendras) for conducting regular off campus training for the farmers as well as conducting Farmer's Field School for women farmers. Women farmers need to be educated and convinced about the importance of recommended paddy production practices. So that, their adoption level can be improved. FAO estimates that if women farmers (43 per cent of the agricultural labour force in developing countries) had the equal access as men, agricultural output in 34 developing countries would rise by an estimated average of up to 4 per cent which could bring down the number of undernourished people in those countries by as much as 17 per cent. Providing due recognition to women’s work and providing them access to the resources and equip them with modern technologies will not only enhance productivity but also help to achieve sustainable development and nutritional security.