Role of Women in Agricultural Sector of Bihar: A Socio-Economic Mapping

The multi-dimensional role of women in agriculture cannot be denied as they contribute in every agricultural operationfrom sowing to harvesting of crops and are also active in allied sectors. Participation of women in total workforce was assessed 27.44 per cent as against 72.56 per cent by male workforce in 2011. Share of women agricultural workforce in total workforce was computed to be 16.57 per cent in 2001 which declined to 6.23 per cent in 2011. Causes of decline may be their participation other sectors with improvement in their literacy rate which rose to 51.50 per cent in 2011 as compared to 33.57 per cent in 2001. Women holding land account for only 13.31 per cent as against 87.27 per cent by men in Bihar. Share of women agricultural workforce in total agricultural workforce was estimated to be 19.32 per cent as per census 2011. Overall contribution of women in agricultural activities was assessed to be 35.94 per cent during 2013–14. Women's contribution in agriculture is significant and plays diverse role, still their wages were found 7.04 per cent less than their male counterparts during 2015–16. Beside all efforts, there is still a wide gender gap in the state which may be addressed properly for overall development of women and the society in particular and state and nation in general. The paper tries to analyze the role women play in agricultural development of Bihar and the issues confronting them.