Women Farmers Being Denied Their Due: Activists
But the government claims support and assistance to women farmers provided over and above male farmers under several schemes
Representational Mar 11, 2021
Despite the contribution of women to farming, their labour is seldom recognized and they hardly get the benefit of schemes, point out activists.
Days after farmers protesting against the Centre’s three new agriculture laws celebrated “Women Farmers’ Day”, many say it is time for equal opportunity and rights.
According to the Mahila Kisan Adhikar Manch, women farmers attend to 75% of agriculture-related work, yet own only 12% of farmland.
The Left-leaning All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) has been demanding that women farmers should also be recognized as farmers, “but the government is not ready to accept this,” alleged Subhashini Ali in a newsletter.
Nearly 75% of the full-time workers on Indian farms are women, according to the international humanitarian group OXFAM. Female farmers produce 60% to 80% of the South Asian country’s food.
So it’s little surprise women are playing a visible role in the monthslong nationwide protests against agricultural reforms passed last September by the Indian government.
Small farmers are particularly vulnerable to three new laws, which deregulated the agricultural market and weakened the government-established minimum sale price for crops in ways that, demonstrators say, could pit small farmers against big agribusiness firms.
And women, as the most marginal of India’s small farmers, may suffer the most if the laws go into effect.
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Women grow as much as 80% of India s food - but its new farm laws overlook their struggles
Bansari Kamdar, University of Massachusetts Boston
March 11, 2021
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Bansari Kamdar, University of Massachusetts Boston and Shreyasee Das, Temple University
(THE CONVERSATION) Indian women are left behind on farms to make ends meet as more men in India migrate from rural areas to cities, seeking higher incomes and better jobs.
Nearly 75% of the full-time workers on Indian farms are women, according to the international humanitarian group OXFAM. Female farmers produce 60% to 80% of the South Asian country’s food.
Women grow as much as 80% of India s food – but its new farm laws overlook their struggles theconversation.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theconversation.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Violence during the tractor rallies came as a setback for farm unions agitating for repeal of central farm laws. However, they expressed their determination to continue with their protests while seeking to dissociate themselves from Tuesdays violence.