Feminisation of Indian Agriculture Without Economic Empowerment

Context:

• Indian agriculture is witnessing rapid feminisation of the workforce, with a sharp rise in women’s participation over the past decade.

• However, this shift has not translated into proportional economic empowerment, as nearly half of women workers remain unpaid, exposing deep structural and gender-based inequities.

• The issue gains importance amid declining agricultural GVA share and emerging opportunities from trade liberalisation and digital agriculture.

Key Highlights:

Rising Women’s Participation in Agriculture

• Women’s employment in agriculture has increased by 135% in the last decade.

• Women now constitute over 42% of India’s agricultural workforce.

• This rise is largely driven by male outmigration from rural areas to non-farm employment, resulting in women replacing men in farm activities.

Unpaid and Invisible Labour

• Nearly 50% of women agricultural workers are unpaid family labourers.

• The number of unpaid women workers has increased 2.5 times in eight years, reaching 59.1 million.

• This reinforces the pattern of feminisation of labour without feminisation of income.

Agriculture and Economic Decline

• Agriculture’s share in national GVA declined from 15.3% (2017–18) to 14.4% (2024–25).

• Rising female participation has coincided with falling sectoral returns, limiting income gains for women.

Structural Inequities Facing Women Farmers

• Land Ownership:

  • Women own only 13–14% of land holdings, restricting their legal recognition as farmers.

• Wage Gap:

  • Women earn 20–30% less than men for equivalent agricultural work.

• Access Barriers:

  • Limited access to credit, insurance, government schemes, and decision-making platforms.

Role of Trade and Global Value Chains

• The India–U.K. Free Trade Agreement is projected to increase Indian agricultural exports by 20% within three years.

• Export-oriented sectors such as rice, spices, dairy, and value-added agri-products offer scope for women’s economic inclusion.

• Integration into global value chains can shift women from unpaid labour to market-linked entrepreneurship.

Technology as an Enabler

• Digital platforms like e-NAM, mobile-based advisories, and precision agriculture tools can:

  • Improve price discovery

  • Enable direct market access

  • Facilitate financial inclusion

• However, challenges of digital literacy, smartphone access, and internet connectivity persist.

Best Practices and Emerging Models

• Odisha’s Swayam Sampurna FPOs demonstrate how collectivisation and training enhance women’s market power.

• L&T Finance’s Digital Sakhi programme shows the role of digital handholding in improving women farmers’ competitiveness.

• These models highlight the importance of FPO-led, tech-enabled empowerment.

Reform Imperatives

• Land reforms: Promote joint and individual land titles for women.

• Labour recognition: Acknowledge women as independent farmers, not helpers.

• Institutional access: Strengthen eligibility for credit, insurance, MSP procurement, and subsidies.

• Skill and digital inclusion: Invest in gender-sensitive agri-extension systems.

UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):

• GS Paper 1 – Indian Society

  • Prelims:

    • Feminisation of agriculture, gender roles in rural economy.

  • Mains:

    • Changing role of women in agriculture and persistence of patriarchal structures.

• GS Paper 2 – Social Justice

  • Prelims:

    • Issues related to women, land rights, unpaid labour.

  • Mains:

    • Gender equity in access to resources, welfare schemes, and institutional credit.

• GS Paper 3 – Indian Economy

  • Prelims:

    • GVA, FTA, FPO, agri-export trends.

  • Mains:

    • Structural transformation of agriculture, role of trade and technology in inclusive growth.