Women Participation in Agriculture

Development literature and policy in India has failed to recognize the significant role that women in farm households play in agricultural operations and related activities. The present study seeks to fill this gap to some extent. The study is based on primary data collected from 280 cultivating households through a field study in selected villages of agriculturally progressive districts of Uttar Pradesh. The study presents information on various aspects of participation of women in different on-farm and off farm economic activities and the factors that determine women participation in work. It also seeks to measure the economic contribution of women to the household income and its impact on status of women and their participation in decision making. The study is expected to enhance the understanding of the role of women in agriculture and to generate interest of the scholars, policy makers and NGOs in the problems faced by women in farm households and motivate them to develop a strategy for the welfare and empowerment of farm women.

KAVITA BALIYAN (b. 1981) born in a farmer’s family in Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh. She has a brilliant academic career and obtained her M.A. and M. Phil degrees in economics from Ch. Charan Singh University, Meerut. She was awarded the ICSSR Doctoral Fellowship to work on the topic “Participation and Economic Contribution of Women in Agriculture with Special Reference to Western Uttar Pradesh” , at the Giri Institute of Development Studies, Lucknow. She obtained her Ph.D. Degree from the Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur. She has worked as a Senior Research Fellow in NCAP, Pusa, New Delhi and as a Research Associate in National Mission for Empowerment of Women, Ministry of Women and Child Development, GOI, New Delhi. In 2013 she joined the Giri Institute of Development Studies, Lucknow as Assistant Professor. Dr. Kavita has published 20 research papers in various reputed journals and books. She has also presented many papers in national and international conferences and seminars. Major areas of her research interest are agricultural development and gender studies.