Women participation in agriculture

Women play important role in agricultural production, carry out various agricultural operations like seeding, transplanting, weeding, fertilizer application, plant protection, thinning, harvesting, selling farm products, processing, storage, marketing of farm products etc. Assamese rural women also work actively in agricultural and allied activities in family farms. Tribal women in Assam work a little longer per day for different farm operations than non-tribal women. It is noteworthy that Assamese rural women spend more time on harvesting and transplanting than other operations. Women also take part in decision making process concerning various farm activities. Nevertheless, different factors, mainly female members in household, farm size, educational status, family income, age etc. determine the demand for women labour in farm activities. Castes, religion, social status, economic status, taboos often deter women workers in agriculture. Lack of proper training and other physical infrastructural facilities also affect women participation in agricultural works. The book will be of immense use to policy makers, field functionaries and Non Governmental Organizations (NGO).