Feminism in Indian Agriculture

Feminism in Indian agriculture signifies the involvement of women in agriculture and allied activities. Agriculture is one of the strong hold of Indian Economy with growth rate of 3.4 per cent and is accounted for 17.32 per cent to the total GDP during 2018-19. During 2011-12, Agriculture employed more than 50 per cent of the Indian work force. It was estimated that 45.3 per cent of agricultural labour force consist of women but a large number of women remained invisible workers. Therefore, women constitute an important part of our labour force in agriculture and perform multidimensional roles. In rural India, the percentage of women who depend on agriculture for their livelihood is as high as 84 per cent (Census, 2011). Women make up about 30 per cent of cultivators and about 43 per cent percent of agricultural laborers. As small farmers face the increasing competition with larger farm operations an increasing number of men migrate to city centers for higher wages and employment. Women are in turn left to support the family structure and support small farm lifestyle. Since, there has been concern expressed regarding the gap between women’s actual economic participation and public perception, several researchers have attempted to overcome this invisibility through gendered empirical research studies for using on gender analysis and gender roles. This topic is highlighting the female participation and wages in agriculture across various Indian states. The secondary data collected for the research is used to study the growth rate of the female agricultural worker for several years. Various challenges are still persistent so special policy as well as programs should be organized to mitigate them. Agricultural education be made gender sensitive and research, development, extension and services be engendered to give due recognition to the multiple role played by women agriculturists. m Participation of both men and women in agriculture has declined, but the rate of decline has been faster among men than it has among women. m Correction in statistical invisibility of women’s work through preparation of an account that should include in detail the work that women undertake is required. like

Feminism in agriculture refers to the measurable increase of women's participation in the agriculture sector, particularly in the developing countries. Some historians believe that it was woman who first domesticated crop plants and thereby initiated the art and science of farming. While men went out hunting in search of food, women started gathering seeds from the native flora and began cultivating those of interest from the point of view of food, feed, fodder, fiber and fuel. The history of Indian Agriculture is as old as Indus Valley Civilization Era and even before that in some parts of Southern India. Agriculture is one of the stronghold of Indian Economy with growth rate of 3.4 per cent and is accounted for 7.32 per cent to the total GDP during 2018. During 2011-12, Agriculture employed 48.8 per cent of the Indian work force. It is estimated that 45.3 per cent of agricultural labour force consist of women but a large number of women remained invisible workers. Therefore, women constitutes an important part of our labour force in agriculture and plays multidimensional role in Mainly rural women are engaged in agricultural activities in three different ways depending on the socio-economic status of their family and regional factors. They work as paid labourers, cultivator doing labour on their own land and managers of certain aspects of agricultural production by way of labour supervision and the participation in post harvest operations. Women is responsible for household food and nutrition security, 90 per cent of the hoeing and weeding in food production, 80 per cent of the work on food storage and transport, more than 90 per cent of post harvest management including food processing, providing water and energy and more than 60 per cent of harvesting and marketing (Ghosh et al. 2014).
In India, 70 per cent of the rural households own livestock. It serves as a source of employment in rural India, especially for women. It has considerable potential for generating additional employment through milk, meat, wool and eggs production. Milk production alone involves more than 30 million small producers. Gender equity is more pronounced in livestock sector, as women participation is 71 per cent of the labour force. As many as 75 million women are engaged in the livestock sector as against 15 million men.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
To measure the year to year variations compound annual growth rate was calculated disparities. To analyze the state wise ownership rights and wage structure simple tabular analysis was done. Whole study was based on Census data (various issues) and 68 th round of NSSO had been used which was conducted in 2011-12.

Tracking the shift in Agricultural Employment
In India, the percentage of women who depend on agriculture for their livelihood is as high as 65.1 per cent during 2011 whereas in non agricultural activities women participation is 34.9 per cent. It can be interpreted from table 1 that although the participation percentage of male as well as female decreased in agriculture and increased in non agricultural activities since 1981 to 2011 still the percentage of women employed in agriculture is more. As small farmers face the increasing competition with larger farm operations an increasing number of men migrate to city centers for higher wages and employment (Pattnaik et al.

Composition of Female workforce in Agriculture
Compound annual growth rate was used to analyze the year to year growth rate as growth rate is not independent of previous year value. The CGR was calculated by: Where, r is the compound rate of growth is calculated by the equation r = (Antilog b 1 -1)* 100.

Operational Land Holdings Owned by Women in India
Operational holdings were used as proxy due to non availability of land ownership data through official sources. Table 4 shows land operated by women as well as total operational holdings. According to the latest census of 2010-11, out of the total operational land, 13.5 per cent was owned by women and only 11 per cent of land was operated by them. Inspite of efficient participation of women in agricultural activities there existed gap between operational holding and land owned by among men and women. Women's owned holdings and operational holdings vary across states, being higher in states like Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, etc.
These persisting gender inequalities resulted limited access to agricultural assets, inputs, information, etc. which ultimately hampered women's potential economic contributions in agriculture (World Bank 2008, FAO 2011. This gap not only led to the gender gaps but also resisted them to take part in institutional credit facilities and federal agricultural benefits. They also face problems in decision making and hence known as invisible workers.

Major Challenges
The major challenge behind development of women in agriculture observed was limited women land ownership. As per census 2011, only 14 per cent women had ownership rights which led to limited credit availability and availment of various financial benefits from institutions. Also women were lagging behind in taking part in training organized by governmental organizations. It has also been observed that they were less paid as compared to male counterparts which made them backward in the society. The machineries were also made without any specific objective to be handled by man or women which further led to drudgery issues among women in agriculture as agriculture now a days technology dependent and due to above mentioned issue female were lagging behind of men. In most of the parts of nation women farmers were illiterate and having no awareness about the existing schemes, benefits, rights, etc. as a result of which female population engaged in agriculture had poor economic as well social growth.

CONCLUSION
Participation of both men and women in agriculture has declined, but the rate of decline has been faster among men than it has among women (Pattnaik et al. 2017). The women are serving the nation without being credited for their work. They are less paid, having no rights in decision making as well as on their lands as well. They are invisible workers in agricultural activities who need attention of government as well as policy makers. Women is serving over every sphere but in agriculture they are still lagging behind due to few reasons like illiteracy, ownership rights, operational rights, lack of training and drudgery issues so a special focus towards this special segment of our workforce is the need of hour. Correction in statistical invisibility of women's work through preparation of an account that should include in detail the work that women undertake is required. Policies and funds allocation need to take cognizance of this, and address women's needs. Adequate attention should be given towards the educational process through which women can engage with the institutions in an informed and empowered way. Agricultural education be made gender sensitive and research, development, extension and services be engendered to give due recognition to the multiple role played by women agriculturists. Women farmers can be moved towards entrepreneurship through various training programs.