How the Gender Gap is Hurting Female Farmers in India

In the last century, India’s agricultural sector has undergone a significant transformation driven by consumption-driven economics and the intensive agriculture production system. The major river basins in northern and western India became role models, showcasing the successful implementation of the Green Revolution. Public and private initiatives from the 1960s onwards have shaped and reinforced this agricultural pathway.

However, amid this agricultural revolution, one critical aspect has been largely overlooked: the significant contribution of women to agriculture in rural India. According to the Annual Periodic Labour Force Survey 2021-2022, 78% of India’s employed women work in agriculture, with the sector having the highest estimated female labour force participation at 62.9%.