Gender inequities in work participation in farm sector (a case study of Andhra Pradesh) Dr. Krishna A. Bala*, Project fellow, U.G.C-M.R.P *Department of Economics, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India. Online published on 3 January, 2012. Abstract The need for exploration of the lives of women especially women belonging to the lowest sections of the society, is therefore obvious. One reason for continuing research in this area is that despite their significant involvement in agricultural work, women have not received appreciation and recognition of their extensive economic contribution. The present study is focused to know the extent of gender inequities in work participation, labour days available and wage rates in agriculture; and also to understand the socio-economic background of agricultural workers. The results of the study indicate that analysis it is clearly evident that 43 per cent of the selected farm households belongs to higher socio-economic strata in the study. And 40 per cent of farm holdings belong to Backward caste communities. Further, it is observed that illiteracy prevails at higher proportions among both genders of male and female of scheduled tribes and scheduled castes. The multiple roles of women in agriculture especially in food storage are generally, underestimated and undervalued. However, data show higher involvement of women than men in cultivation. It may, therefore, be inferred that low socio-economic stratum women performed more work in crop cultivation than the women of high and medium socioeconomic strata. The main reason for this phenomenon is that the respondents of low socio-economic stratum are mainly landless and wage earners, who are left with no other alternative for their livelihood, than to work on others fields as agricultural labourers. As these womenfolk are left with no other alternative for their livelihood they are pushed into less skilled, low paying, more time consuming and drudgery prone activities. The same is reinforced by the technological development such as use of tractors which ensures high wages for men where socio-cultural constraints limit women's access to the use of mechanical devices. Top Keywords Caste categories, gender, man days, wage rates, working hours. Top |