This will help in enhancing agricultural productivity in the country, said the Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development., D.Purandeswari
She was inaugurating two days National Consultation on ‘Gender Perspective in Agriculture’ jointly organized by the Directorate of Research on Women in Agriculture (DSWA) and Division of Agricultural Extension under the aegis of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
“Migration of rural men has put the pressure on women agricultural labor in rural area. Their child needed more nutritional and health care. Holistically revisiting agricultural policy can solve these problems”, she said. Lauding the role played by the ICAR she said that agricultural research should be centered on the problems faced by the women. She also deliberated upon the credit facility for women farmers.
Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR, Dr. S. Ayyappan hoped that this consultation come out with innovative ideas to provide access and control over agricultural resources, information, knowledge and market to women. He also emphasized on better working conditions and share in income and benefits for women in agriculture. “Food security along with nutritional, health and emotional security is another aspects for development “, he added.
Former Secretary, DARE and DG, ICAR, Dr. RS Paroda urged to reorient home science research to make it more effective and efficient. He suggested that vocational training may be provided to Home Science students so that they can become a job provider instead of job seeker.. Secretary, National Advisory Council, Dr. Rita Sharma described changes in government paradigm and impact of climate change as two major drivers of change in agriculture.
DDG (Agricultural Extension), Dr KD Kokate in his presentation provided a glimpse of women’s participation in Indian agriculture.This is an effort to draw the attention of women scientists and academicians of National Agriculture Research System and other closely related stakeholders to the subject of gender research in agriculture and look into the prospects of further strengthening Home Science as a curriculum and as a career.
An FAO study indicated that in the Indian Himalayas a pair of bullock’s works 1064 hours, a man 1212 hours and a woman 3485 hours in a year on a one hectare farm, a figure that illustrates women’s significant contribution to agricultural production. In overall farm production, women’s average contribution is estimated at 55% to 66% of the total labour with percentages, much higher in certain regions.
Although women currently provide 60-80% of the agricultural labour, they have limited access to the resources and opportunities needed to maximize and profit from their contributions. Limitations constrain farmers’ ability to improve their lives and that of their families and the transformative power of agriculture to alleviate poverty and hunger.
Studies conducted in nine states in India by DRWA indicated that independent participation of women was more in homestead-based agriculture. Joint participation in crop production activity was 75% for major crops, 79% for horticulture and 51% in post harvest operations. In livestock work participation rate of women was 58% and in fisheries about 95%.
Highest participation of women in agriculture was observed in Himachal Pradesh and lowest in Uttarakhand as in the latter joint participation was prevalent. DRWA data also shows a considerable gap in gender work participation rate which narrows down in Himachal and Chhattisgarh.