Role of Women in Dairy Farming: Case Study of Haryana

As an agriculture-based economy, dairy farming and the milk industry are an important component of India's’rural economy. In Haryana, specially, which is one of the leading states in milk production, women's role is an important contribution. In fact, majority of the work connected to dairy farming from fodder collection to looking after the livestock is all done by women. Although women are performing the majority of the work, yet their role in dairy farming and agriculture is grossly underestimated. Women perform all kinds of related work of looking after the livestock in addition to their domestic responsibilities but since they are rarely connected in marketing the produce; therefore, their work is invisible and not valued. Even the transfer of new technology in this sector is rarely transmitted to them because of the underestimation of their role. This study attempts to understand the role and contribution of women in the dairy industry in Haryana. Case studies have been undertaken in order to get a holistic picture of their role and contribution.