Relevance: GS Paper 1 (Society) & GS Paper 3 (Agriculture & Economy) | Source: The Hindu / UN FAO

The United Nations has declared 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer. However, in India, a sad truth remains: women do most of the hard work on our farms, but they are still underpaid, undercounted, and ignored by government policies.

1. The Rise of the “Invisible” Workforce

• Feminisation of Agriculture: As men migrate to cities for better jobs, women are left behind to manage the village farms.
• The Double Burden: Women work all day in the fields and then do unpaid housework (cooking, caring for children). Because farm work is mixed with housework, official surveys often fail to count them as “real workers.”
• No Other Choice: Today, 73% of women in farming are called “self-employed.” But this is mostly because they have no other job options, not because they are running big businesses.

2. Hard Work, Low Pay

• More Women Labourers: For the first time since Independence, there are more hired female farm workers (21.7 million) than male workers. They also do most of the heavy work in rearing cows and buffaloes.
• The Huge Wage Gap: Despite working equally hard, women face massive discrimination. In many villages, women earn less than ₹300 a day—often getting less than half of what men earn for the exact same work. This is a direct failure of the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976.

3. The Biggest Problem: No Land Rights

• Labourers, Not Owners: Only about 10% of rural women actually own land.
• The “Farmer” Tag: Because the land papers are in the names of men, the government treats women merely as “helpers” or “cultivators,” not as actual “farmers.”
• Missing Out on Benefits: Without a piece of land in their name, women cannot get bank loans, buy subsidized seeds, or receive the ₹6,000 yearly support from the PM-KISAN scheme.

One Line Wrap: True agricultural growth in India will only happen when the women who sow the seeds are finally given the legal right to own the soil.

“The feminisation of Indian agriculture is a reality, yet women remain invisible in farming policies.” Discuss the daily challenges faced by women farmers and suggest simple solutions. (15 Marks, 250 Words)

Model Hints

• Intro: Define the Feminisation of Agriculture (driven by men moving to cities). Mention the global context of 2026 being the International Year of the Woman Farmer.
• Body: * Challenges: Explain the Double Burden of housework and farm work. Mention the huge wage gap (under ₹300/day).
  • The Core Issue: Highlight that only 10% own land, which cuts them off from bank loans and the PM-KISAN scheme.
• Conclusion: Suggest clear reforms like promoting joint land titles, strictly enforcing the Equal Remuneration Act, and using the Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana to empower women farmers.