The Hidden Truth About Women Farmers in India | Vijender Masijeevi

Описание: When we hear the word “farmer”, most of us automatically imagine a man, perhaps wearing a turban, driving a tractor, or standing in a field.


But is that image really accurate?
In reality, a large proportion of agricultural labour in India is performed by women. Various labour surveys and research studies show that women play a central role in sowing, weeding, harvesting, animal care, and post-harvest work. Yet despite their enormous contribution, women farmers often remain invisible in policies, land ownership, credit access, and public recognition.

In this video, we explore an important question:

Why do we rarely imagine women when we think of farmers?

This issue becomes even more relevant when we reflect on the spirit of International Working Women’s Day, which recognizes the contributions of women workers across the world. Women working in agriculture represent one of the largest yet most under-recognized groups of working women globally.

We discuss several key issues in this conversation:

• The feminization of agriculture in India
• Why women farmers often remain unrecognized as “farmers”
• The deep influence of patriarchal structures and social conditioning
• The gap between labour participation and land ownership
• How policy, language, and cultural imagery shape our understanding of farming
• Why recognizing women farmers is crucial for food security, economic equity, and rural development

Understanding the role of women in agriculture is not only a matter of gender equality, it is also an economic necessity. When women farmers receive equal recognition, access to resources, and institutional support, agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods improve significantly.

As agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan once noted:

“Between the farmer’s field and the dinner table, women hold the key to food security.”
This video is a reminder to rethink the way we imagine farmers, and to recognize the millions of women whose labour sustains India’s food system.


About Dr Vijender:

Dr Vijender Chauhan is an educator, UPSC Interviewer and Motivational speaker with an experience of over a decade. He is one of the most recognised faces among the UPSC aspirants.

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