Assessing the role of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sivasagar in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment among farm women in Sivasagar District, Assam

Introduction

India is world's 6 th largest economy in the world with an estimated economic power of $4.15 trillion. But still it ranks 131 out of 148 countries with an overall gender parity score of 64.1% (Global Gender Gap Report, 2025) [1] . In Agri Food system of India, Indian women contribute 62% of total workforce as farmers, agricultural labourer, agri-preneurs and community leader and 80% women in rural sector are engaged in the agri food system of India. They drive every stage of agri food system-from sowing seed to harvesting. Women are not only engaged in food production, they are also engaged in livestock, fishery, seed conservation and processing as well. Despite accounting second position in global agricultural production and having a nearly equal sex ratio, India has a significant gender gap. Various socio economic factors are identified responsible for the severe gender gap. Interaction of many socio-economic elements determines the status of women in any community. Even now, more than 60 years of independence, there is still widespread gender discrimination (Jangir et al., 2024) [2] . Recognizing and tackling gender inequities is critical for gender equality and food security and sustainable agricultural development (Kanojiya et al., 2023) [3] . Lack of land ownership, restricted access to credit and technology, unpaid family labour, wage disparity etc are found as the factors of gender gap in Indian Agri food system. While 73.2% rural women work in agriculture, only about 12%-13.5% own land, Lack of ownership of land limits their access to institutional credit, loans and inputs for agriculture activities (Singh et al., 2023) [4] . Women in agriculture frequently earn less than male farmer. Apart from this, women farmers were not welcome in decision making in the family. Although women participate in marketing as traders and vendors, their potential remains constrained by poor market literacy and male dominated market. To reduce this gender gap and to establish gender equality and social inclusion, Krishi Vigyan Kendras of Indian Council of Agricultural Research are working strategically (ICAR, 2025) [5] . Krishi Vigyan kendras ase an integral part of the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) aims at assessment of location specific technology modules in agriculture and allied disciplines through training, technology assessment, refinement and demonstrations. Krishi Vigyan Kendras empower farm women through tailored vocational training, skill development in agriculture and allied sectors and introduction of drudgery reducing www.extensionjournal.com technologies. The Krishi Vigyan Kendras have got clear cut mandates for upgradation farmwomen in term of capacity building through training, demonstrated campaign and sensitization programme. While child nutrition and mother care have become the prime issues to the nation, the KVK are organizing different vocational training for the women. Some of the trainings are specially designed for the women so that they can earn and sustain their family through remunerative enterprise like vermicompost, kitchen garden, tailoring, fabric, preservation of fruits and vegetable/nursery, floriculture, pisiculture ornamental fish etc. (Acharya, et al., 2019) [6] . Under the guidance of KVKs, women farmers are not only involving in the areas related to women health, income generation but also in the fields dominated by male farmers like seed production (Jagriti Beej Savikas, Malda, West Bengal; Balaram women Farmers SHG, Baramati etc), CHCs for women, encouraging agripreneures etc. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sivasagar is also encouraging farm women through awareness programme, trainings, on farm trials and front line demonstrations and able to make a significant change in promoting gender equality and social inclusion in Sivasagar district of Assam.

Materials and Methods

KVK

Results and Discussion

Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) play a crucial role in promoting Gender Equality and Women Empowerment in Indian agriculture by providing targeted training, technology, and support services to women and marginalized communities, thereby enhancing their livelihoods and decision-making power. KVKs address gender disparities in agriculture through Customized training for value addition, household food security and animal husbandry; Skill Development and Entrepreneurship development by poultry farming, mushroom cultivation, beekeeping; popularize and demonstrate location-specific; Drudgery-reducing technologies and tools to save women's time and energy and improve their work efficiency; Gender Mainstreaming by fostering the formation of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and improving their access to information, technology, and financial resources; representation of farm women as members of their Scientific Advisory Committees (SAC) ensuring their perspectives are considered in planning and reviewing activities. Fostering Social inclusion by it's mandated activities and flagship programmes, KVKs contributing a great share in rural India by uplifting all farming communities, including rural youth and school dropouts, socially disadvantaged and tribal farmers, by ensuring agricultural research and entrepreneurship. As a result, new breeds of poultry like Kuttanad, White pekin, Vanashree, Janapriya and Sri Nidhi, BV380 layer poultry were introduced and getting popularity among women farmers. Another second most important sector is value addition and food processing (24%). Under this sector many women farmers are able to establish as Agripreneur in Sivasagar district. Mushroom, vermicompost, floriculture, honey production are some thrust areas given importance by the women farmers (Fig. 3). Women farmers trained by KVK Sivasagar are not only doing excellent in women specialized skills; but also taking part in male dominating sectors like farm machineries and seed production programmes.

Conclusion

In this changing scenario of Indian agriculture, there is a strong need for institutional support to promote critical analysis in women and encourage them to think independently and challenge unequal gender relations and exploitation. Krishi vigyan Kendras under ICAR are pivotal institutions in Indian Agriculture for minimizing the gender gap by transforming women from passive farm labourers to skilled, empowered stackholder of the farming community. KVKs are fostering farm women's access to knowledge, technologies, and institutional platforms, thereby strengthening their agency, productivity, and leadership in agri-food systems.

There should be more numbers of skill development training programmes for women leading to entrepreneurship development; women based Farmers Producer Companies to access financial benefits and marketing through KVKs of India to promote gender equality and women empowerment in Indian Agriculture.

Acknowledgement

AcknowledgmentThe authors thankfully acknowledge the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for providing the necessary facilities to conduct various programmes.

References

1. World Economic Forum. Global Gender Gap Report. 2025.
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3. Kanojiya N, Tripathi S, Verma M. Empowering the backbone: Role and involvement of women farmers in India's agriculture sector. The Pharma Innovation Journal. 2023;12(SP-9):2058-2060.
4. Singh V, Patel S, Singh R. Analyzing gender disparities in land ownership and wage rates in Indian agriculture: An empirical study. Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology. 2023;41(9):652660. doi:10.9734/ajaees/2023/v41i92087.
5. Indian Council of Agricultural Research. ICAR Gender Strategy for National Agricultural Research, Education and Extension System. Directorate of Knowledge Management in Agriculture; 2025.
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