Women in Agriculture

Lesson 7 : Activities of Women in Agriculture & Allied Sectors

Livestock

In India, livestock plays a multi-faceted role in providing manure for crops, energy for cooking and food for household consumption as well as the market. With regional difference, women take care of animal production.

• In animal husbandry women have a multiple role.
• Their activities vary widely ranging from care of animals, grazing, fodder collection, cleaning of animal sheds to processing milk and livestock products.
• In livestock management, indoor jobs like milking, feeding, cleaning, etc. are done by women in 90% of families while management of male animals and fodder production are effected by men.
• Women accounted for 93% of total employment in dairy production.
• Depending upon the economic status, women perform the tasks of collecting fodder, collecting and processing dung.
• Dung composting and carrying to the fields is undertaken by women.
• Women also prepare cooking fuel by mixing dung with twigs and crop residues.

Though women play a significant role in livestock management and production, women's control over livestock and its products is negligible. The vast majority of the dairy cooperative membership is assumed by men.