Role of Women in Paddy Cultivation - A Study in Pakala Mandal, Tirupati District, Andhra Pradesh

Women make essential contributions to the agricultural and rural economies in all developing countries. Their roles vary considerably between and within regions and are changing rapidly in many parts of the world, where economic and social forces are transforming the agricultural sector. Rural women often manage complex households and pursue multiple livelihood strategies. Their activities typically include producing agricultural crops, tending animals, processing and preparing food, working for wages in agricultural or other rural enterprises, collecting fuel and water, engaging in trade and marketing, caring for family members and maintaining their homes. Many of these activities are not defined as economically active employment in national accounts but they are essential to the well-being of rural households. The paper presents the role of women in paddy cultivation in Pakala Mandal of Tirupati District of Andhra Pradesh.