Dynamics and role of hill farm women in agricultural production activities in Mid Hills, Sub Humid Agro Climatic Zone of Himachal Pradesh

Indian economy is rural based as it has a web of more than 6 lakh villages and majority of the population lives in rural areas. The primary occupation of this population is agriculture. In the hilly state of Himachal Pradesh too, majority of the people lives in rural areas with marginal and small land holdings. They are contributing a lot in state's economy. In Himachal women are the strongest pillars of the families as men folk are working outside the homes or home towns for earning cash and the women are looking after the household chores as well as the agricultural activities. So it can be rightly said that hilly women are very good workers as well as managers. Hence the present study was performed to analyse the dynamics and role of 300 farm women engaged in crop related production activities in Gohar and Chauntra blocks of Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh under All India Coordinated Research Project- Women in Agriculture funded by ICAR-CIWA, Bhubaneswar. In the study, majority of the respondents jointly participate in almost all crop production related activities like sowing (91.33%), management of farm labour (89.00%), harvesting of farm produce (87.67%) and retention of farm produce for sale (84.67%). Women's participation alone was found highest in weeding (55.33%) and lowest in management of farm labour (7.33%). Likewise participation, decisions related to all crop related activities were taken jointly by the husband and wife. Women's decision making was found highest only in weeding (53.33%) and retention of farm produce for consumption (50.33%). In the study it was also revealed that labour was engaged only in few activities i.e. at the time of land preparation, sowing and harvesting only. It was also found that men's participation alone in all activities were very less as compared to that of women. Thus it can be said that crop production related activities were done with the cooperation of all family members and with labour engagement in very few activities and highest women's participation was found in very intricate works of agriculture like weeding. Hence there is a need to focus on formulating gender inclusive agricultural strategies and technologies.