Critical Review on Indian Agricultural Policies with Special Reference to Women Farmers

Abstract

Due to out-migration of male labour role, responsibility and participation of women in agriculture at household level are expanding day by day.According to OXFAM report, women, who are economically active in India 80% women engaged in Agriculture and allied activity. But till women’s labour remained unrecognized and invisible in the agricultural sector. In this context, proper planning, efficient policies, play a significant role to carry out agricultural activities effectively. After Independence the government introduced the different initiatives in the form of Five Years Plans, Schemes etc. which emphasized to empower Women farmers with food security and motivated to organise SHGs to enhance access to their technological, entrepreneurial skills and access microcredit facilities. These plans concern with principle aim of reducing gender gap in agricultural and allied sector, ensuring their land rights, eradicating women’s work drudgery. National Commission on Farmers, National Policy on Women farmers have been facing new challenges in the capitalist farming system with traditional patriarchal values. The Women Farmers Entitlement Bill, 2011 focused on land rights, water rights, credit and technological rights. Government of India has taken several steps to improve the overall condition of agriculture in India. Because of unsupportive social system, caste system, and in efficient administrative practices, the policies initiated by the Government are yet to achieve desired goals.