Women Farmers' Leadership in Climate Change Adaptation

‘Feminization’ of Indian agriculture sector forms the subject matter of this engaging article contributed by Dr Nitya Nanda and Dr Susmita Mitra. Addressing the challenges faced by women farmers is crucial for achieving climate justice and sustainable development. Moreover, sustainable development emphasizes the need to enhance community resilience and strengthening the resilience of women farmers could contribute to the overall resilience of rural communities.

- Dr Nitya Nanda and Dr Susmita Mitra

It is now well recognized that Indian agriculture is highly vulnerable to climate change. Over the last couple of decades, many male members of rural families have migrated to cities for better earning, leaving the women to look after their farming activities. Therefore, it is up to these women farmers to deal with the impacts of climate change and adopt appropriate adaptation measures. Addressing the challenges faced by women farmers is essential for achieving climate justice and sustainable development. Moreover, sustainable development emphasizes the need to enhance community resilience, and strengthening the resilience of women farmers could contribute to the overall resilience of rural communities.

Climate change vulnerability arises from higher exposure, larger sensitivity to climate-related risks, and limited adaptive capacity. Several studies have highlighted that rural women face higher exposure as they are often responsible for food, water, and fuel for the entire family. Women are more affected by drought, errant rainfall, and water shortages as they have to spend significant time travelling to and forth to distant water resources. Compared to male farmers, female farmers’ higher sensitivity to climate change arises from the social inequalities and ascribed roles, differences in property rights, access to information, less involvement in decision making, and lack of employment opportunities. A 2012 International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) study identified five critical factors that affect adaptive capacities of women farmers: natural, physical, human, financial, and social capital. Social barriers often prevent female farmers from accessing education and training, information, extension services, land, and other resources, and restrict them from adopting improved technologies.