Women are responsible for 75% of the crop production tasks in rural agriculture.
New Delhi, December 19, 2024: ACCESS Development Services has launched the 18th edition of the State of India’s Livelihoods (SOIL) Report, an annual publication that explores the key trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping India’s livelihoods landscape. This year’s special edition focuses on Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE), emphasizing its critical role in driving sustainable economic growth and contributing to the vision of a developed India by 2047.
The report underscores the importance of women’s workforce participation as a vital factor for inclusive growth in India. While progress has been made, such as an increase in the female Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) to 37% in 2022-23, women continue to face significant barriers, including gender wage gaps, limited access to resources, and an unequal share of unpaid care work, all of which prevent them from fully realizing their economic potential.
Key Findings of the Report:
- Women play a central role in rural agriculture, contributing over 75% of primary crop production tasks. However, climate shocks and resource inequalities disproportionately impact women farmers. A gender-responsive approach to climate-smart agriculture could unlock significant growth opportunities.
- Women make up the majority of self-employed individuals, especially in rural areas, where 67.8% of women are engaged in self-employment. However, challenges in scaling their businesses persist. Women entrepreneurs tend to hire more female workers, emphasizing the need for policies that support their growth and expansion.
- Women perform four times as much unpaid care work as men, which remains a major barrier to workforce participation. Investing in the care economy has the potential to create 300 million jobs globally, with women benefiting disproportionately.
- Despite policy incentives, public and private sector procurement from women-owned enterprises remains low. Strategic market interventions could provide pathways for women entrepreneurs to scale their businesses.
The report calls for a multi-stakeholder approach to dismantle structural barriers to women’s economic participation. Key recommendations include closing financing gaps for women-led businesses, promoting gender-responsive agricultural policies, investing in care infrastructure to reduce the burden of unpaid care work, and enhancing market access through inclusive procurement strategies.
Vipin Sharma, CEO of ACCESS Development Services, commented, “Women’s economic empowerment is not just a moral imperative; it is India’s growth imperative. Despite systemic challenges, women in India are making significant economic contributions, particularly in agriculture and entrepreneurship. To fully unlock their potential, we must create enabling ecosystems that provide access to finance, markets, and care infrastructure. This report serves as a roadmap for policymakers, businesses, and civil society to work together in fostering inclusive and sustainable development.”
The SOIL Report serves as a vital resource for policymakers, researchers, and advocates working toward gender equality. It offers actionable insights for empowering women and advancing economic inclusion in India’s dynamic landscape.
