Women Do 70-80 Pc Work, But Aren't Recognized: NABARD On Felicitating Woman Farmers In Ghy

Guwahati: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and Assam Agriculture Department recently recognized women in the agricultural sector during an award ceremony at Ganesh Mandir Indoor Stadium in Khanapara.

During the event, Business North East (BNE) spoke to NABARD Chief General Manager Loken Das, who talked about how women farmers contribute to the economy. 

"This time, we aimed to recognize the 14 woman farmers with exceptional potential to operate tractors, power tillers, or traditional Assamese farming equipment like Nangol," he said. 

"Around 70-80 per cent of work is done by women. However, they do not get recognized. We aim to give them recognition. NABARD will continue to identify and support more women farmers, offering financial assistance and recognition similarly," he further told BNE. 

Assam's Additional Secretary of Agriculture T.P. Bhusal shared an interesting anecdote during the event. 

"During the felicitation program, we heard an inspiring speech from a woman farmer named Nabanita. She shared how Vietnamese woman farmers are advancing the country's agricultural sector through their unity and potential. Nabanita said, if they can do it, why can’t we achieve the same in Assam, striking a chord with everyone," T.P. Bhusal said.  

BNE also spoke to Deepa Baruah, a woman farmer from Majuli, who shared her experiences in the agricultural sector. "I specialize in cultivating rice, mustard, and garlic on my land. I use traditional Assamese equipment like the Nangol and sometimes tractors as needed. Last month, I earned Rs. 45,000 from mustard and Rs. 80,000 from garlic sales," Deepa Baruah said, adding that the changing weather often poses challenges, but as farmers, they are prepared to tackle them.

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"NABARD has financially and mentally supported me to establish my nursery business. Now, I am training ten other women in my locality to set up their small nurseries, each with a budget of Rs. 20,000–30,000," another woman entrepreneur from Goalpara district told BNE during the event.

Meanwhile, this initiative by NABARD underscores the crucial role of women in agriculture and entrepreneurship while providing them with the resources and recognition to excel.