Climate Change and Feminization of Agriculture in India: Mapping the Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

The feminization of agriculture in India, driven by male migration to urban areas, intersects with the growing challenges of climate change, creating a complex landscape of both opportunities and challenges. Women, increasingly responsible for agricultural work, face heightened vulnerabilities due to their reliance on natural resources and limited access to adaptive technologies, credit, and decision-making power. Climate change exacerbates these challenges, intensifying workloads and threatening food security as crop yields decline and traditional farming practices become less viable. However, this convergence also presents opportunities for empowering women through targeted interventions such as land ownership, access to climate-resilient technologies, and involvement in decision-making processes. By recognizing and supporting women's critical roles in agriculture India can enhance agricultural productivity, promote gender equality, and build climate resilience in rural communities.