WOMEN” IN AGRICULTURE IN 21st CETURY

Scientific breakthroughs and technological innovations in the 20th century fueled substantial gains in agricultural productivity in many developed and developing countries. In each country, the successful local development of technologies or the transfer and adaptation of innovations from other countries will depend on incentives and barriers faced by investors and producers. Countries with strong research, health, and education capacity will offer a supportive environment for technology investment science and technology can play a critical role in helping to prevent famine, improve nutrition, and move countries closer toward a goal of ending world hunger. Education is important at all levels to support the development and transfer of science and technology.in research, there is a need for trained individuals to develop and implement regulations that affect technology use. Qualified people are also needed to represent their country’s interests in international negotiations. Decision-makers need the expertise to understand the positive and negative implications of their actions within the complex human and ecological environment
In extension activities the women is now the centre point and activities are being planned keeping her in view. Her enlightenment will change the face of rural India. Several programmes started at the National Centre for Women in Agriculture and Krishi Vigyan Kendras, are the right steps in this direction. This paper consider some important study and project and focus them perfectly.
Self help groups were made and took up income generating steps in home made products, dairy products, bakery products, tailoring/embroidery, goat/buffalo rearing and vermicomposting Innovative marketing outlets developed for Self help groups. Five components of AICRP on Home Science moved towards empowerment of rural women. There main achievements were Mobilization of self help groups and creation of learning environment Strengthening empowerment process Empowerment gains for women were assessed Cafeteria for women in agriculture was developed and offered to states to guide the development of new programmes for women in agriculture DARE/ICAR ANNUAL REPORT 2003–2004 174 harvest activities and livestock management were assessed. Under the project Identification and evaluation of interactive learning modules for dissemination of homestead technologies ergonomic assessment was carried out on the traditional and improved method of paddy parboiling procedures. During paddy parboiling using improved technology (paddy par boiling unit) the heart beat rate and energy expenditure were significantly reduced and the out put also increased from 35 kg per batch to 75kg per batch. The time duration of carrying out this activity also reduced from 2 days to 6 hours. Considering the significant utility of paddy parboiling unit, an interactive learning module is being developed on paddy parboiling unit, which will be useful for trainers in disseminating the technology. The project on Improvement in storage practices of seeds and grains of important crops with women perspective highlighted that begunia leaf (Vitex negundo) treatment of mung seeds is effective.
The research project of the National Research Centre for Women in Agriculture (NRCWA)
The conducted project has been functioning at Bhubaneshwar, Orissa, for developing methodologies, for identification of gender implications in farming systems approach and to develop women specific technologies under different production systems. There are 16 ongoing research projects in the areas of gender study on agriculture and household economy, management of coastal agro-eco system, extension methods for farm women, standardization of women specific field practices, occupational health hazards, reducing drudgery of women in agricultural operations, improvement of farming system suited to farm women, eco-friendly pest management technologies for vegetables among farm women, evaluation of interactive learning modules, technological needs in empowering women in rural aquaculture, and improvement in storage practices of seeds and grains. Under project on Development and testing of extension methods for farmwomen in eastern India, the extent of participation of farm women in different farming systems and farm enterprises and the role of change agents in that context, were studied. Contrary to the situation at coastal tract the male extension agents maintained higher contacts with farmwomen than the lady extension agent. The studies under Identification and improvement of farming systems suited to farmwomen in Eastern India project revealed that there is intense involvement of farmwomen in vegetable cultivation necessitating to take follow up supportive activities and interventions in the area of vermin composting, natural plant pesticides, biological control and IPM. Under the project Standardization of women specific field practices in rice in Orissa data were collected from women heads of 50 farm families on participation of women in relation to varying operations in rice cultivation. Women of family contributed highest hours per season (61.66) in harvesting and post harvesting operations and participated lowest in land preparation. Same pattern was observed from the paid women and total women (family + paid labor). Under project on Occupational health hazards of farm women in coastal Orissa the health hazards faced by women in household activities, farm activities, post Women in Agriculture The women is the backbone of agricultural workforce but worldwide her hard work has mostly been unpaid. She does the most tedious and back-breaking tasks in agriculture, animal husbandry and homes. The research efforts at the ICAR institutes have been tried to relieve her of the drudgery by providing time and labor saving tools. Vocational trainings are also being conducted, to impart skills to undertake different avocations. In extension activities the women is now the centre point and activities are being planned keeping her in view. Her enlightenment will change the face of rural India. Several programmes started at the National Centre for Women in Agriculture and Krishi Vigyan Kendras, are the right steps in this direction.