Risks And Challenges Faced By Women Farmers During Covid 19 Pandemic Crisis

Abstract

A study was conducted in Kanpur district to assess the risks and challenges faced by women farmers during covid-19, pandemic crisis. Two blocks of Kanpur with 300 respondents were selected in this study area. Out of the total respondents, 48.33 per cent women farmer belong to age group of 40 to 50 years, and 57.66 per cent women were illiterate. 50.66% of women farmers belong to the general category, while only 18.34 per cent of women farmers were in the SC/ST category. 93.66 per cent respondents belong to the Hindu religion. Cent per cent women farmers adopted this occupation as her main occupation and also 70.00 per cent used secondary one. 56.33 per cent women farmers had an annual income between 1.0 and 1.5 lacs. 88.33 per cent respondents were married and 11.67 per cent respondents were widow. 88.67per cent respondents belong to joint families and the remaining 19.33 per cent belong to nuclear families. 55.33 per cent of respondents had 4-6 family members. 67.67 per cent respondents lived in mixed (Kuchcha and Pukka) houses and 55 per cent were marginal farmer. 56 per cent of respondents had sprayers, 4% had tube wells and only 1% of respondents had tractors. 95 per cent respondents had milch animals and 21.6 per cent had drought animals. Cent per cent respondents used Chulha , 88.33 were used gas. 11.67 per cent women farmer were engaged in Mahila Mandal, 8.33 per cent were part of Aanganwadi, 5 per cent each participated in SHG, NGO, and KVK. Only 3 per cent women farmer were Asha workers. Cultivation and agricultural labour were the main sources of livelihood activities responded by the entire cent per cent women farmer. Cent per cent respondents were performed in pre-sowing activities like irrigation for land through machines while wedding, hoeing, and bundle making were done manually by cent per cent respondents. 71 per cent of women farmers felt very heavy workloads. 61.67 per cent respondents felt average working conditions and 38.33 per cent felt poor working conditions. newline