Who are the farmers of the future?
What is feminisation of agriculture?
What is the project about?
To put it more clearly, the project investigates the following:
- the spatial and temporal changes and patterns in women’s participation in the agricultural workforce.
- the causes and indicators of feminisation, the determinant factors and their regional variations.
- the multiple consequences for women heading agricultural households.
- women farmer’s perceptions regarding the preferences, priorities, and understand constraints faced in strengthening agriculture and the interests affected.
- the adequacy of existing policy and support mechanisms for women farmers and identify opportunities to address women’s needs.
As early as in the mid-1990s, feminisation of agriculture was noted in the country. Two Indian states are under intense scholarly scrutiny in this project: Gujarat and West Bengal selected because of their contrasting agrarian growth trajectories. These two states are significantly disparate in economic, social and gender aspects. The very different economic trajectories of the two states yield illustrative results through statistical studies of relationships between economic growth parameters and feminisation. They offer compelling insights into the causes and consequences of feminisation of agriculture. Semiarid Gujarat’s milk revolution was spearheaded by rural women bringing prosperity to rural homes. In contrast, West Bengal has experienced deepening rural poverty with severe consequences for women.
Why this project?
Related resources
Notes from the field: http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/blogs/southasiamasala/2012/08/14/feature- article-notes-from-the-field-feminisation-of-agriculture-in-the-eastern-gangetic-plains/#more- 4335
Women as farmers: http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/blogs/southasiamasala/2014/08/21/women-as- farmers-feminisation-of-farming/
Publications
Experiencing, Coping with Change: http://aciar.gov.au/files/tr_83_web.pdf