Women and livestock: Constraints and challenges

India is developing country. Many women in developing countries are occupied in agriculture. Women occupation in agriculture in low income countries in Asia is between 60–80 per cent. In this important agricultural sector woman plays a vital role, because it is largely a household enterprise. Nearly 63 percent of all economically active men are engaged in agriculture and allied sectors as compared to 78 per cent of women. Almost 50 percent of rural female workers are classified as agricultural labourers and 37% as cultivators. About 70 percent of farm work was performed by women. Gender participation in livestock management is as old as mankind. In rural areas women's participation -rate in agricultural and livestock management activities is high as compared to men. It is observed that women play a significant and crucial role in agricultural development and allied fields including, main crop produclion, live-stock production, horticulture, post-harvesting operations, agro/social forestry, fishing etc. The continuation of women's traditional reproductive and productive roles, due to primarily on physiological, social and cultural grounds, has subordinated them in the general spheres of development. Long standing obstacles faced by rural women in terms of limited access to productive resources (Land, Transport, Extension Services; Storage and Technical Assistance) prevent them from adopting new technologies. Increasing women's involvement In livestock development activities could be encouraged by training and demonstration directly to women instead of expecting knowledge to trickle down to them from men