Women are contributing more to the agricultural fields than the male members. The male plough land and then, the women start sowing seed. They do a lot of works in the field up to yielding,” said Nilendri Bhoi, a young woman farmer from Saintala block in Balangir district in a State-level convention here on Tuesday organised by the CYSD.
Another leading woman farmer Rashmi Hembram from Thakurmunda block of Mayurbhanj district said, “Though we are working more in the field than male members of our family, we are yet to be identified as farmers.”
Rashmi, who works with her family members in her farm land, has taken up paddy cultivation whereas Nilendri has taken up vegetables in her land.
There are huge numbers of women farmers in various districts who contribute a lot to agriculture practices. But, as they are not identified as agricultural labourers, they don’t get any benefits from the Government, said former State Information Commissioner (SIC) Jagadananda.
In some cases, where female members only are involved in farming and their husbands are engaged in some other professions, they find a lot of difficulties in availing loan since they are not considered as farmers. They have to get the loan through their husbands, he said
Jagadananda also said as land is a passport to identification of the farmers and accessing credit, the women farmers should get it.
About 120 women farmers from various districts were present in the convention. They shared their problems, including rights to land and identification as farmer etc.
Oxfam Odisha head Akhaya Biswal, latika Pradhan and Supriya Das spoke, among others.
The speakers unanimously demanded that since women farmers are the backbone of farming activities in the State, they should get the status of farmers and avail all benefits extended to farmers in the State.
CYSD secretary Jagadananda chaired the meeting, while programme director Jayadev Dakua gave welcome address.
Tanmaya Jena gave vote of thanks.