‘Women’s role in agriculture never recognized, measured’

Chennai: "What percentage of the labour force in agri-food systems constitutes women? Statistics might say 50% but in reality, it is much higher, considering fisheries, livestock and more," said Nitya Rao, professor of gender and development at University of East Anglia, UK, and trustee, M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), at the seminar ‘Reframing the narrative: A national media workshop on gender and agri-food systems'. Every year in March, the seminar is held at M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, in memory of educationist Mina Swaminathan, the wife of agricultural scientist, late M S Swaminathan. Media fellowships are awarded to deserving journalists. This year is UN's international year of the woman farmer. "More men are migrating to cities, which leaves women to tend to farms; yet, only 13% of women own land," said Nitya. "At the same time, women earn only 82 cents for every dollar earned by men. Most of women's labour goes unpaid."In a later session, Madhura Swaminathan, professor, Indian Statistical Institute, reiterated that women's contribution to agriculture has never been recognized or measured. The govt is celebrating the stats which say 42% of rural women above the age of 15 are in the workforce, but not only are these figures too low, they are incorrect, she said. "If you study their economic activity throughout the day, and every day for a week, you will find 60% of adult women are engaged in farm labour. This figure becomes 90% during harvest season." And yet, govt schemes and policies are not made with women in mind.The seminar also discussed women's labour in the context of climate change, where Soumya Swaminathan, chairperson, MSSRF, stressed that all development should be climate sensitive. At another discussion, author Aparna Karthikeyan said stories of all women should be told, not just ones labelled victors and victims.