Women’s Role and Challenges in Agriculture: A Case Study of Gangetic Plains of North Bihar

A woman in agriculture form the backbone of rural livelihoods in India, and nowhere is this more evident than in the Gangetic plains of North Bihar. Despite their central role in food production, livestock care, and post-harvest processing, women remain largely invisible in agricultural policies and official statistics. Their contributions are frequently undervalued due to limited land ownership, restricted access to credit, and deeply entrenched gender norms that confine them to the margins of decision-making processes. This study explores the multifaceted role of women in agriculture in North Bihar, with particular emphasis on the challenges they face in sustaining rural households under conditions of economic hardship, ecological vulnerability, and male out-migration. Women are involved in almost every stage of farming—from sowing and transplanting to harvesting and storage—yet they are rarely recognized as farmers in their own right. Structural constraints such as unequal land rights, financial exclusion, and lack of institutional support compound their struggles. Health-related issues, particularly anemia and malnutrition, further reduce their productivity. Environmental stressors like recurrent floods in the Gangetic basin intensify women’s vulnerability, while the absence of male family members due to seasonal migration increases their workload without corresponding empowerment. The paper argues that women in agriculture must be seen not merely as supplementary laborers but as central agents of rural transformation. Addressing their challenges requires gender-sensitive land reforms, improved access to microfinance and training, and climate-resilient agricultural strategies. Recognizing women as farmers is crucial for inclusive growth, food security, and the sustainable development of Bihar’s agrarian economy.