Women in cotton farming in Vidarbha Region of Maharashtra

The women play an important and crucial role in agricultural development and allied fields. The nature and scope of women's involvement in agriculture, no doubt, varies greatly from region to region. The study was undertaken during 2017 in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra of a random sample of 53 cotton farm women to explore the extent of rural women's participation in cotton production and other gender issues. It was found that the main cotton production activities performed by women are picking, sowing, weeding, manuring and application of fertilizers. Men dominated in majority of the farm related decions. 41.5 per cent of the total respondents owned land for cotton cultivation activities. Gender bias in the labour and wage market was observed. Women's contribution to economic development is vital, there is a need to be given experience in decision-making process, trainings for the successful and profitable production which depends on strategies made and decisions taken.