Gender-sensitive agri-horti cropping model: A transformative approach for livelihood enhancement

Abstract

The trending feminization in agriculture necessitates mainstreaming farm women with the commercial actualization of farming by designing women-centric cropping models and extension approaches, which addresses their farming issues and upgrade them with latest technical know how in agriculture to enhance their livelihood. Bridging the gender gap in agriculture by integrating women-inclusive strategies will enable in transforming Indian agriculture. With this back drop, ICAR-Central Institute for Women in Agriculture attempted to empower the farm women of eastern tropical region with gender-sensitive agri-horti livelihood enhancing cropping model. The model caters predominantly to the needs of rice women growers of the region, who also cultivate need-based seasonal vegetable crops. The introduction of high yielding rice varieties like CR-Dhan 307 (Maudamani), CR-Dhan 409 (Pradhan Dhan) and CR-Dhan 312, resulted in phenomenal yield enhancement of ~30–60%. Crop diversification in medium land paddy with relay cropping of black gram, variety PU–31, resulted in a yield enhancement of ~25–30%. Similarly, transformation of conventional vegetable farming with improved package of practices resulted in increasing production potential by ~25–50%. The livelihood model adopts a women-centric approach which aligns with farm women’s needs and preferences.