Women participation in South Asian agriculture: a comprehensive systematic review

Abstract Agriculture holds significant socioeconomic importance in South Asia, with women playing vital roles in various agricultural activities. Recognising their contributions is essential for food security, poverty reduction, and sustainable development. This research investigates the crucial role of women in agricultural development in South Asia, employing systematic review methods and text-mining techniques. The study utilised a systemic review methodology for thorough review procedures and data analysis, incorporating the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) model and text mining techniques. The initial search on Scopus generated 292 papers, while the Web of Science (WoS) databases provided 324 relevant articles. Following a thorough screening process, 47 articles were ultimately included in the review. The word cloud analysis highlights key terms like “women,” “empowerment,” and “agriculture,” underscoring their significance in women’s involvement in agriculture. The review also identified a research gap in intersectionality, an essential aspect of gender studies. Furthermore, VOSviewer software’s network analysis depicted various parameters’ interconnectedness in women’s agriculture participation. This systematic review extensively examined recommendations, extensions, and policies concerning women’s involvement in South Asian agriculture. Finally, the study emphasises the crucial link between women, agriculture, and South Asia, advocating for policy interventions and further research to empower women.