Bhubaneswar, June 28: Participation of women in agricultural activities seems to be falling in the state. While other vocations are drawing them, migration of labour remains another important factor behind their declining participation in the farm sector.

According to the Directorate of Research on Women in Agriculture (DRWA) under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), with migration of workers from agriculture continuing, this sector was facing stiff competition from other sectors in retaining workers. This, said sources, was as true of men as of women.

The participation of women was declining notwithstanding the fact that agriculture continues to provide employment and livelihood to about 65 per cent of the state’s population. Ironically, there is continuous decline in the share of agriculture in overall GDP (Gross Domestic Product) which was 14.6 per cent in 2009-10.

Expressing concern over this issue, DRWA director Dr Krishna Srinath said: “A viable strategy could be developed to harness the untapped potential of women and promoting gender mainstreaming in agriculture.”

Leading woman activist Tapasi Praharaj said: “As the rural market is slowly opening up, the labour force has also undergone a shift. The women force is now engaged in other fields, including processing of products and other business.”

She said the shrinkage of agriculture land in the state has also forced the woman labour force to make new choices. “Only a few years ago, we had witnessed treme-ndous agricultural activities on the city outskirts and also between Puri and Bhubaneswar and Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. However, with these areas now witnessing a construction boom, the women folk have also decided to cash in on this and changed tack.”

Another leading woman activist Amruta Patel said the rural women’s participation in agriculture had always been linked to agrarian production. “As farm production has not grown in any significant manner and the use of machines have increased, it is naturally affecting the participation of women.”

Srinath said: “More favourable policy environment, increasing attention to women with incentives, good number of schemes in agriculture with gender focus and increasing investment in agriculture should be given priority.”

Interestingly, however, the women force is emerging in a big way in the area of technological field. The market opportunities for them are also opening up in the state in these areas.

However, Srinath said the untapped potential of women in the agriculture sector should be tapped and gender mainstreaming in this sector should be encouraged. It would be important to increase workforce participation rate among women from 25.6 per cent in 2001 to 30 per cent in 2011 and literacy among women.

Significantly, the recent years have witnessed launching of a good number of macro-level schemes in agriculture, rural development and some women focused schemes that are poised to create large opportunities for women in agriculture through more use of scientific knowledge and technology.

“What is required is largescale mobilisation and motivation of rural women to participate in the programmes with focus on capacity building and entrepreneurship development,” Srinath said.

Women force can be utilised in the fields of crop production, horticulture, live stock rearing, rural aquaculture and poultry.