Rising female participation in Indian agriculture faces challenges of unpaid labor and gender pay gaps
Women's participation in Indian agriculture has surged, with nearly two out of every three working women now engaged in the sector. However, this 'feminisation of agriculture' is marked by significant challenges: nearly half of these women are unpaid family workers, and they often lack official recognition as farmers. This invisibility prevents them from accessing credit, land ownership, and government subsidies. While global trade trends and digital tools like e-NAM offer opportunities for income-generating entrepreneurship, structural barriers like low digital literacy and limited land rights persist. Policies must recognize women as independent farmers to ensure equitable growth.
Key Points
- Women's employment in agriculture surged by 135% over eight years, now accounting for over 42% of the sector's workforce.
- Approximately 59.1 million women in the agriculture sector are classified as unpaid family workers as of 2023-24.
- Only 13-14% of women in agriculture are official landholders, limiting their access to institutional credit and insurance.
- Digital platforms like e-NAM and AI-enabled solutions can help bridge the gap by connecting women to markets and financial services.
Exam Facts
- Data is sourced from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023-24.
- The number of unpaid female family workers in agriculture rose from 23.6 million in 2017-18 to 59.1 million in 2023-24.
- States like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh see over 80% of working women in agriculture.
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