Women's Empowerment in Agriculture
Agriculture
- PYQs8
- Articles1
Background
This concept is crucial for UPSC as it intersects with Social Justice (gender equality, vulnerable sections), Indian Economy (agriculture sector, rural development), and Indian Polity (legislative measures, welfare policies). It highlights the challenges faced by a significant demographic in a key economic sector and the policy interventions required for inclusive growth and sustainable development.
Women's empowerment in agriculture refers to the process of increasing women's access to resources, opportunities, and decision-making power within the agricultural sector. Despite significant participation in farming activities, women often face systemic barriers, including lack of land ownership, limited access to credit, technology, and markets, leading to their exclusion from mainstream agricultural policies and welfare schemes.
Facts & tables
- High Participation, Low Recognition
- Women constitute a significant portion of the agricultural workforce (e.g., 81% in Maharashtra) but often lack independent legal recognition as farmers.
- Land Ownership Barrier
- Lack of land ownership is a primary reason for women's exclusion from government agricultural schemes and institutional support.
- Scope of Activities
- Women farmers are involved not only in crop cultivation but also in allied activities like fisheries, livestock rearing, poultry farming, and collection of forest produce.
- Policy Gap
- Existing agricultural policies and welfare schemes are often male-centric, failing to adequately address the specific needs and challenges of women farmers.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Gender Equality |
| Conceptual area | Rural Development |
| Conceptual area | Social Justice |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Maharashtra Legislative Assembly | Introduces/passes legislation |
| State Government (Maharashtra) | Proposes and implements policies |
| Agriculture Ministry (State) | Drafts and oversees agricultural policies |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis
Prelims angle: Policy measures
- Women's significant role in agriculture often unrecognized.
- Lack of land ownership is a key barrier to scheme access for women farmers.
- Proposed bill aims for legal recognition and improved access to institutional support.
- Covers women in allied activities like fisheries, livestock, and forest produce.
- Focus on digital systems for efficient scheme delivery to women farmers.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Statement-based questions, Purpose or function of a policy tool |
| 2020 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2020 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2019 | Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding |
| 2017 | Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures |
| 2017 | Statement-based questions, Purpose or function of a policy tool |
| 2016 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2016 | Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures |
Timeline
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Gender Equality
Conceptual area
-
Rural Development
Conceptual area
-
Social Justice
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2016
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2016
Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures
-
Prelims 2017
Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures
-
Prelims 2017
Statement-based questions, Purpose or function of a policy tool
-
Prelims 2019
Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2020
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2020
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2025
Statement-based questions, Purpose or function of a policy tool
-
Maharashtra to table ‘Women Farmers Empowerment Bill’ during upcoming Monsoon Session
The Maharashtra Women Farmers Empowerment Bill aims to grant legal recognition to women farmers, improving their access to agricultural schemes, credit, and support by addressing barriers like lack of land ownership.
See also
No related topics linked yet.
Past papers
2016–2025 · 8 questions
In the news
Maharashtra to table ‘Women Farmers Empowerment Bill’ during upcoming Monsoon Session
The Maharashtra Women Farmers Empowerment Bill aims to grant legal recognition to women farmers, improving their access to agricultural schemes, credit, and support by addressing barriers like lack of land ownership.
Try these PYQs
Consider the following statements :
The nation-wide ‘Soil Health Card Scheme’ aims at
1. expanding the cultivable area under irrigation.
2. enabling the banks to assess the quantum of loans to be granted to farmers on the basis of soil quality.
3. checking the overuse of fertilizers in farmlands.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Out of the listed statements about the Soil Health Card Scheme : Statement 1 is Incorrect: Expanding the cultivable area under irrigation is not a primary objective of the scheme. Statement 2 is Incorrect: Banks don't directly use soil cards to assess loan quantum. Loan approvals depend on various factors like land ownership, crop type, and credit history. Statement 3 is Correct: A key objective of the scheme is to promote the judicious use of fertilisers. By informing farmers about their soil's nutrient status, the scheme encourages them to apply only the required amount of fertilisers, reducing overuse and potential environmental damage. Therefore, the correct answer is 3 only (checking the overuse of fertilisers in farmlands).Hence, option B is the correct answer.
With reference to ‘Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. This initiative aims to demonstrate the improved production and post-harvest technologies and to demonstrate value addition techniques, in an integrated manner, with a cluster approach.
2. Poor, small, marginal and tribal farmers have a larger stake in this scheme.
3. An important objective of the scheme is to encourage farmers of commercial crops to shift to millet cultivation by offering them free kits of critical inputs of nutrients and micro-irrigation equipment.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Statement 1 is correct. The Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion aims to demonstrate improved production and post-harvest technologies in an integrated manner with a cluster approach. Statement 2 is also correct. Millets are mainly grown in regions of low annual rainfall and poor arid soil. It is inadequate, small, marginal and tribal farmers, who cannot afford costly irrigation practices, depend on the cultivation of millets. Hence these farmers benefit from the scheme and have a larger stake in this scheme. Statement 3 is not correct. There is no such provision to encourage commercial crop farmers to shift to millet cultivation.
What is/are the advantage/advantages of implementing the ‘National Agriculture Market’ (NAM) scheme?
1. It is a pan-India electronic trading portal for agricultural commodities.
2. It provides the farmers access to the nationwide market, with prices commensurate with the quality of their produce.
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
E-NAM (National Agriculture Market) is an online trading platform for agriculture produce aiming to help farmers, traders, and buyers with online trading and getting a better price through smooth marketing. Statement 1 is Correct: Pan-India electronic trading portal (Correct) This is a core feature of NAM. It creates a unified online platform where farmers can connect with buyers from across the country, eliminating geographical restrictions and potentially increasing market access. Statement 2 is Correct: Access to nationwide markets and better prices (Correct) NAM allows farmers to see prices prevailing in various mandis (wholesale markets) across the country. This transparency empowers them to choose the market offering the best price for their produce, potentially fetching them higher returns compared to traditional, localised markets. Therefore, the correct answer is 1 and 2 both are correct.Hence, option C is the correct answer.
With reference to land reforms in independent India, which one of the following statements is correct?
Land reform is a broad term: - It refers to an institutional measure directed towards altering the existing pattern of ownership, tenancy, and management of land. - It entails redistribution of the rights of ownership and/or use of land away from large landowners and in favour of cultivators with very limited or no landholdings. - At the time of independence, ownership of land was concentrated in the hands of a few. This led to the exploitation of the farmers and was a major hindrance towards the socio-economic development of the rural population. - Equal distribution of land was therefore an area of focus of Independent India's government. Laws for land ceilings were enacted in various states during the 50s & 60s, which were modified on the directives of the central government in 1972.
In India, which of the following can be considered as public investment in agriculture?
1. Fixing Minimum Support Price for agricultural produce of all crops
2. Computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies
3. Social Capital development
4. Free electricity supply to farmers
5. Waiver of agricultural loans by the banking system
6. Setting up of cold storage facilities by the governments
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Public investment in agriculture refers to government expenditures aimed at improving the agricultural sector, including infrastructure development, technological improvements, and providing institutional support. Statement 1 is incorrect: Fixing the Minimum Support Price (MSP) is a policy decision, not an investment. While it affects the agricultural sector, it is not a direct public investment in terms of capital expenditure. Statement 2 is correct: The computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) is a public investment because it involves government funds directed towards modernizing agricultural credit systems, enhancing efficiency, and accessibility for farmers. Statement 3 is correct: Social Capital development is a public investment in agriculture, as it involves building networks and community-based resources that help farmers improve productivity and access to resources. Statement 4 is incorrect: Free electricity supply is more of a subsidy, not a direct public investment in the form of capital expenditure. Statement 5 is incorrect: Waiver of agricultural loans is a policy measure aimed at alleviating farmer debt but does not qualify as an investment in infrastructure or capital. Statement 6 is correct: The setting up of cold storage facilities by the government is a direct public investment aimed at improving agricultural infrastructure and reducing post-harvest losses. Hence, option C is the correct answer.
Show 3 more PYQs
With reference to ‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana’, consider the following statements:
1. Under this scheme, farmers will have to pay a uniform premium of two per cent for any crop they cultivate in any season of the year.
2. This scheme covers post-harvest losses arising out of cyclones and unseasonal rains.
Which of the statements given about is/are correct?
The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is a government-sponsored crop insurance scheme. Statement 1 is Incorrect: Under this scheme, farmers have to pay a uniform premium of 2% for all Kharif crops, 1.5% for all Rabi crops, and 5% for commercial/horticultural crops. The premium rate is not uniform for all crops in all seasons. Statement 2 is Correct: The scheme does cover post-harvest losses arising out of cyclones and unseasonal rains. Hence, option B is the correct answer.
Consider the following statements about the Rashtriya Gokul Mission:
I. It is important for the upliftment of rural poor as majority of low producing indigenous animals are with small and marginal farmers and landless labourers.
II. It was initiated to promote indigenous cattle and buffalo rearing and conservation in a scientific and holistic manner.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
✅ Statement I: Correct
*RGM aims to conserve indigenous breeds, benefiting small farmers and landless labourers by improving animal productivity.* ✅ Statement II: Correct
*Launched in December 2014, the mission promotes scientific breeding, genetic upgradation, and conservation of indigenous breeds.* Correct Answer: (C) Both Statements I and II are correct.
Under the Kisan Credit Card scheme, short-term credit support is given to farmers for which of the following purposes?
1. Working capital for maintenance of farm assets
2. Purchase of combine harvesters, tractors and mini trucks.
3. Consumption requirements of farm households
4. Post-harvest expense
5. Construction of family house and setting up of village cold storage facility.
Select the correct answer
Under the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme, short-term credit support is provided to farmers for purposes that directly support agricultural activities and the farm household. Statement 1 is correct. The KCC scheme provides working capital for the maintenance of farm assets, which includes things like irrigation, fertilizers, and labor costs. Statement 2 is incorrect. The KCC scheme does not cover the purchase of capital-intensive assets such as combine harvesters, tractors, and mini trucks. These are typically financed through long-term loans, not short-term credit. Statement 3 is correct. The KCC scheme provides credit for consumption requirements of the farm household, like daily needs and family expenditures. Statement 4 is correct. The KCC scheme can also be used for post-harvest expenses, including costs for storage, transportation, and marketing of produce. Statement 5 is incorrect. The construction of a family house and setting up of village cold storage facilities are not covered under the KCC scheme, as these are typically considered long-term capital expenditures. The list of eligible activities for KCC are:
- To meet the short-term credit requirements for cultivation of crops
- Post-harvest expenses, - Produce marketing loan - Consumption requirements of farmer household. - Working capital for maintenance of farm assets band activities allied to agriculture like dairy animals, inland fishery etc. - Investment credit requirement for agriculture and allied activities like pumpsets, sprayers, dairy animals etc. Hence, option B is the correct answer.