Digital Tools Transforming Women’s Role in Farming

Context

India’s agri-food systems, encompassing agriculture, livestock, fisheries, and agroforestry, heavily depend on women’s labor. Despite their significant contributions, women face systemic barriers that limit their productivity and decision-making capacities. These challenges are exacerbated by gendered norms that assign women labor-intensive, low-paying tasks while denying them access to resources and technology. However, targeted technological interventions have begun to address these inequities, empowering women and transforming their roles in agriculture and allied sectors.

Challenges Faced by Women in Agriculture

• Limited Access to Resources: The independence of women to control productive resources such as land, credit, and farm machinery is curtailed.
• Time-Consuming Work: Women are often assigned to very hard work like weeding, threshing, and dehulling. These heavy and laborious activities drain out the energy of women and consume much time. 
• Impact of Mechanization: The mechanization of agriculture often tends to favor men, thus leaving behind women in paid agricultural work.
• Intersectional Barriers: Gender, alongside caste and class, further deepens the inequalities in labor division and resource allocation.

Role of Technology in Empowering Women

Technological innovations tailored to women’s needs can significantly enhance their productivity, decision-making capabilities, and economic independence.

Interventions-Agricultural Interventions

• The M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) has made efforts to re-introduce the cultivation of small millets among indigenous communities in the Koraput district of Odisha. The introduction of machines for women to undertake threshing- and dehulling-related work has reduced their workload and enhanced productivity.
• Digital tools in the form of mobile applications and helplines help women farmers in marketing information, inventory management, and sustainable agriculture practices.

Digital Empowerment in Fisheries

• Women fish workers in Tamil Nadu have benefited much through digital tools including mobile phones and advisory tools. This has improved their access to fish markets, reduced their operational costs, and enhanced their resilience against economic vulnerabilities. 
• Also, programs such as PlantwisePlus provide women with plant health management information through digital learning platforms and empower them to practice climate-smart agriculture.

Breaking Stereotypes Through Technology

• Challenging Gender Norms: Tractors and other farm machinery are often seen as symbols of masculine power. Training women to operate these tools challenges patriarchal stereotypes and increases their agency in farming operations.
• Leadership Roles in Agritech: Agritech is knocking about the doors of women managerial roles in post-harvest arenas such as processing, sales, and marketing. the shift towards that is drawing women higher along the social ladder.

Case Studies of Impact

• Rejuvenating Koraput Millets: The empowering women that MSSRF has practiced in Koraput has also engaged them in making decisions regarding sowing and selection, thereby managing resources.
• Fisheries Sector in Tamil Nadu: The digital tools linked with the MSSRF initiative enable female fish vendors in crossing associated barriers such as better market access and high cost of transport.

Challenges in Scaling Gender-Responsive Technologies

• Digital Divide: Poor access to smartphones and restricted internet coverage further constraints women’s access to digital tools.
• Patriarchal Resistance: Investments made towards gender-responsive technology are often critiqued by families and communities who are steeped in traditional norms.

Way Forward

• Policy Support: Governments must prioritize gender-inclusive policies that promote women’s access to resources and technology.
• Capacity Building: Training programs should focus on equipping women with skills to operate advanced machinery and use digital tools.
• Community Engagement: Interventions must involve men, families, and local communities to create an enabling ecosystem for women’s empowerment.

Conclusion

Technological interventions tailored to women’s needs can bridge the gender gap in agriculture, enhancing productivity and fostering economic independence. However, these efforts must be accompanied by systemic changes that address deep-rooted patriarchal structures. By investing in gender-responsive technologies and creating inclusive ecosystems, India can unlock the full potential of its female workforce in agriculture and allied sectors.

Source: The Indian Express

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Q. Women play a crucial role in Indian agriculture, yet they face multiple challenges in terms of access to land, credit, and technology. Discuss the significance of women in agriculture and suggest measures to enhance their participation and empowerment. (250 words, 15 marks)

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