Authors: Sukanta Kumar Mahapatra and Bijaylaxmi Mohapatra
First Author Affiliation: National Institute of Open Schooling, Ministry of Education, Government of India; Second Author Affiliation: MS College, NOIDA.
Abstract: The participation of women in the process of food production is very significant. According to various surveys and studies, women play vital role in the agricultural process, beginning from the collection of seeds to the production of crops and finally preserving the same for the next agricultural cycle. The indigenous knowledge of women farmers is quite sustainable and environment friendly that made women in contributing around 70 percent in the farm related works. However, the introduction of modern industrial agricultural mechanism aims only at profit maximisation. As a result, the active participation of women in farming has been gradually devalued. Lack
of resources and poor knowledge about new agricultural policies has badly affected the financial independency of women. Again, it has also underestimated a sustainable practice in farming which has resulted a crisis in environment. The paper attempts to examine the interrelationship between women, farming and production of nutritious food. The paper also reflects on the relationship between women’s eco- friendly expertise, sustainable agriculture and food production based on case studies from South Asian countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
Keywords: Women, Farming, Production of food, Sustainable practice, Biodiversity