A Report on Agricultural Production and Processing Technologies for Women in India

Abstract

Even though there has been a considerable increase in the use of mechanical power, Indian agriculture continues to be largely dependent on animate power. The population of agricultural workers in India is estimated to be about 207 million, of which about 92 million are women. Fifty percent of these women workers are laborers, 37percent cultivators, 2 percent engaged in animal husbandry, fisheries and forestry, and 11 percent in other activities. Both women and men perform field operations in agriculture, but the processing activities are mainly performed by women. Among the many activities performed by women are clod breaking, seed sorting and treatment, transplanting, weeding and harvesting. Women workers also do most of the activities related to animal husbandry, fisheries and sericulture. However, due to the socio-cultural system in India and the consequent lower levels of literacy and skill, women workers have lagged behind their male counterparts in the use of improved technologies. On the other hand, the improved package of technologies developed by research and development institutions to facilitate agricultural production and processing have focused mainly on male workers. This paper highlights some of the mechanized agro-processing technologies suitable for women in Indian agriculture.