Feminisation of dairy farming or distress? Tracking the progression of Women in Dairy farming in India

Dairy farming is integral to the economies of every country, providing employment and income for millions, especially those dependent on small farming. The dairy sector forms an essential part of the agricultural economy, contributing 9% of the total agricultural produce and offering livelihood to about 80% of the total farmers in the farming community of India. It is a mix of urban and rural agriculture which acts as a backbone in the socio-economic fabric of the country. In India, the agricultural sector has been subjected to a gendered division of labor. Women have always played pivotal roles in dairy farming because of the nature of the agriculturally based lifestyle they share with the males of this society. Over the years, women have traditionally managed a variety of animals on the farm. This has, of course, included milking cows during different time periods in history. The styles of dairying have changed physically but the roles of women in dairying have not. Even in these times of transition, more and more women from urban lifestyles are choosing dairy farming as a way of life.