Gender inequality in Agriculture and Food systems

An Indian Evidence Study

Abstract

India produces one-fourth of the world’s agricultural output and has a nearly equal gender distribution, but there is a sizable gender gap in the country when it comes to decision-making, access to credit, wage gaps, farm activities, marketing, extension services, food consumption, and food production & productivity. Seven years have passed since the Sustainable Development Goals were established by the UN in 2015 to advance prosperity while preserving the environment. The SDG-5’s goal of attaining gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls has experienced several obstacles over the years. Inequalities between men and women have long plagued India’s food and agricultural systems. To understand gender inequality in India’s agriculture and food systems and to offer practical solutions to close the gender gap that already exists, this study employed the systematic review methodology to investigate the relevant literature. In order to effectively close this gap in the future, it was determined that more qualitative and mixed method research must be conducted across the country in a number of areas, including decision-making, credit access, wage disparities, farm activities, marketing, extension services, food consumption, and food production & productivity. A lot of work needs to be done to bridge the gender gap and empower farm women, according to the data. In order to minimize the gender gap in India’s food and agricultural systems, a number of methods are offered.