Women and Agriculture: Problems and Challenges

Abstract India, a nation deeply rooted in its agricultural heritage, stands firm on the pillars of its rural population. According to the Union Budget 2023-24, with nearly 70% of households depending on agriculture for their livelihoods, the fields become the epicentre of India's economic life. This paper tries to analyse the problems of women agricultural labourers in Ramanagara. Agriculture is a powerful tool for poverty reduction and the main occupation for women in rural areas. Women’smulti-tasking ability help them manage complex households and multiple livelihood strategies. Their contribution is difficult to access and their roles as farmers, labourers and entrepreneurs face severe constraints than men have access to most of the resources. The main objective of this paper is to recognize the fundamental problems and challenges of women in agriculture. The rural women in our society are oppressed and deprived of their basic rights. Though women are playing major role in agricultural development and allied fields, they almost have no access to agricultural information, production assets and have limited control over their earnings, gender gap in earnings. Other challenges that they face are lack of information on job availability, as well as opportunities for training and education, limited access to property, land, and financial services. Women in agriculture are subject to discrimination on multiple grounds based on gender, ethnicity, religion etc. Women can make agriculture sustainable, and development is possible through agriculture with technological advancement.