Women In Homestead Vegetable Farming
Women In Homestead Vegetable Farming
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The world faces the fundamental challenge of ensuring food security for millions of households living in poverty (Adekunle, 2013). The proportion of people living on less than 1.25 USD was 22% in 2010 (World Bank, 2010). Poverty and food insecurity are major issues in India, too, since out of a population of 1.21 billion people (Census 2011), 17.5% are malnourished (FAO, IFAD, WFP, 2012).
Despite radical measures based on scientific advancement, such as the introduction of high-yielding varieties and integrated farming systems, starvation is a reality that the world, especially developing countries like India, cannot ignore. It has become evident that developmental solutions aimed at alleviating poverty and ensuring food security must be built around sustainable exploitation of land and water, the two basic natural resources required for the sustenance of life. Also, any such intervention must focus on women because it is they who sustain rural households by pursuing multiple livelihood strategies.
Throughout the developing world, women are central to agriculture and constitute at least 43% of the agricultural work force (FAO, 2011). In India too they play a crucial role in agriculture and allied activities.
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