Women Farmers in India: The Invisible Backbone of Agriculture
Why in News?
On International Women's Day (March 8), the Food and Agriculture Organization highlighted the International Year of the Woman Farmer, drawing attention to the enormous yet under-recognized role of women in agriculture.
Field studies and labour surveys show that women contribute massively to crop cultivation, livestock rearing, and wage labour, but their earnings remain low and poorly documented.
Women in Indian Agriculture: Key Statistics
According to the National Sample Survey Office Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS):
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46.5% of rural women (15+ age) participated in the workforce in 2023-24
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This was 35% in 2011-12
However, this increase hides a deeper issue:
| Category | 2011-12 | 2023-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Self-employed women | 60% | 73% |
| Women in wage employment | Higher earlier | Declining |
This means that lack of wage jobs is pushing women into self-employment, especially in agriculture.
Scale of Women’s Participation in Agriculture
In 2023-24:
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117.6 million women worked in agriculture
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95.1 million self-employed
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21.7 million wage workers
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0.8 million regular workers
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Male workforce in agriculture: 127.5 million
➡️ Women now constitute almost half of India’s agricultural workforce.
Sector-wise Contribution of Women
1. Crop Production
Village studies show women contribute heavily to farm work.
Examples from Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh villages:
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Women contributed 61% of labour in Palakurichi village
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57% in Venmani village
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41% in Mahatwar village (UP)
Women perform tasks such as:
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Sowing
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Transplanting
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Weeding
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Harvesting
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Post-harvest processing
2. Livestock Rearing
Livestock is one of the fastest growing agricultural sectors.
Women dominate this sector.
Key facts:
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Around 40 million rural households own milch animals.
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Women spend around 2 hours per animal daily caring for livestock.
Thus about 40 million women are involved in animal rearing.
Activities include:
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Feeding cattle
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Milking
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Cleaning sheds
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Processing dairy products
3. Agricultural Wage Labour
Mechanisation has reduced labour demand, especially affecting women.
Women’s share of casual agricultural labour ranges from:
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16% to 71% across villages.
Most women workers belong to:
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Landless labour households
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Small and marginal farmers
Wage and Income Reality
Despite massive contributions, women earn very little.
Wage Labour
Daily wage of women in agriculture:
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Tamil Nadu villages: ₹290
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Uttar Pradesh villages: ₹242–₹276
National average (Nov 2025):
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₹384/day for women agricultural workers.
However:
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Women earn much less than men
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Wage gap remains high.
Livestock Income
Estimated earnings from livestock work:
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Around ₹100/day
This is only about 40% of the prevailing agricultural wage rate.
Crop Production Income
Farm income remains low.
Example:
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Less than ₹16,000 per year in eastern UP villages.
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Less than ₹24,000 per year in Tamil Nadu village.
Even if half goes to women, income remains very small.
Major Structural Problems
1. Invisible Labour
Women’s work is often:
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Unpaid
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Home-based
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Seasonal
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Mixed with childcare
Therefore surveys fail to capture their work accurately.
2. Lack of Land Ownership
Only about 10% of rural women own land.
Without land ownership, women cannot access:
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Institutional credit
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Government schemes
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Crop insurance
3. Gender Wage Gap
Women’s wages are often 30-50% lower than men’s wages.
4. Declining Wage Opportunities
Mechanisation and farm restructuring have reduced demand for labour.
Women are pushed into low-paid self-employment.
Government Initiatives for Women Farmers
Some important initiatives include:
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Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana
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National Rural Livelihoods Mission
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Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi
However, limited land ownership restricts women’s access to these schemes.
Way Forward
To strengthen women farmers:
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Recognise women as farmers in official records
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Promote joint land titles
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Ensure equal wages
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Improve access to credit and markets
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Expand women-focused agricultural training
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Strengthen self-help groups and cooperatives
UPSC Previous Year Question (PYQ)
UPSC Mains GS-3 (Agriculture)
“Discuss the role of women in agriculture in India and examine the challenges they face.”
Key points expected:
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Feminisation of agriculture
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Lack of land rights
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Wage inequality
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Policy support required
Possible UPSC Prelims MCQ
Consider the following statements regarding women in Indian agriculture:
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Women constitute nearly half of India’s agricultural workforce.
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Most rural women agricultural workers are self-employed.
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A majority of rural women farmers own agricultural land.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2
B. 2 and 3
C. 1 and 3
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A
Conclusion
Women are the hidden backbone of Indian agriculture.
Despite contributing nearly half of the workforce, they face low wages, lack of recognition, and limited access to assets.
Recognising women farmers is essential not only for gender justice but also for sustainable agricultural growth in India.
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