Women comprise a significant share of the labor force engaged in agriculture as farm laborers, producers, distributors, marketers and agricultural entrepreneurs. In Latin America 20%, in Asia 30-60% and in Sub-Saharan Africa, 50-75% of the Agricultural labor force is supplied by women. However they do not enjoy the same rights and privileges as their male counterparts. It is estimated that women are responsible for 70% of actual farm work and constitute up to 60% of the farming population. In vegetable cultivation women contribute from seed sowing to marketing and post-harvest operation like their male counterparts. In many cases women force are better options than men like nursery raising, hand pollination of pointed gourd etc.

Table shows the result of a study conducted in rural Rajasthan to quantify the contribution of women in several farm activities in India.

Source: Chayal et al 2010

Not only agricultural activities, women have to reconcile their work in the fields with domestic and child-care responsibilities. Women’s position is complicated further because their work in agriculture is often done on informal basis-through part-time or informal labor arrangements and therefore goes largely unrecognized. Providing them with educational and technical support, can be an effective approach to increase the productivity of women and fight hunger and poverty. Empowerment of women through better access to economical assets and decision making process will not only give proper nourishment of the children and family members but will also secure a sustainable growth to the small farming families.