Sustainable Agricultural Practices for Empowering Women Farmers: Green Foundation

In February 2013, it was reported that more than 60 percent of India’s population was engaged in agriculture and that women comprised 70 percent to 80 percent of the agricultural workforce. But while the women farmers spent a disproportionate amount of their time toiling in the fields, involved in activities such as sowing, planting, weeding, and harvesting, it was the men who largely controlled the market and income.

Although the majority of women were engaged in agricultural activities in India, they remained one of the most vulnerable groups of society. From lacking access to land rights to having minimal food security and unsustainable livelihoods, women farmers were plagued by several issues. Their problems were compounded by factors such as gender disparities in areas of access to inputs, resources, services, technology, and sharing of benefits. The denudation of natural resources, fluctuating climatic conditions, and sub-division of their land holdings only added to their woes, leading to a decline in their incomes from agriculture........