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DOI: https://doi.org/10.63345/ijre.v12.i8.1
Ajitha K R
Research Scholar
Maharaja Agrasen Himalayan Garhwal University
Dr. Bhrigu Jee Srivastava
Research Guide
Maharaja Agrasen Himalayan Garhwal University
Abstract— Women play a central yet often underrecognized role in agricultural production in semi-arid regions of India, where farming systems are shaped by climatic uncertainty, labor scarcity, and resource constraints. This study examines how women’s allocation of time across agricultural tasks influences crop choice decisions and household welfare outcomes. Drawing on the concept of time as a scarce and gendered resource, the paper analyzes the trade-offs women face between farm labor, domestic responsibilities, and income-generating activities. It explores how labor-intensive versus less time-demanding crops affect women’s workloads, decision-making power, and the stability of household livelihoods. The study highlights that women’s time burdens significantly shape cropping patterns, often limiting diversification and adoption of climate-resilient practices despite their potential welfare benefits. At the household level, unequal time demands are linked to nutritional outcomes, income variability, and women’s well-being. By foregrounding women’s time use in agricultural decision-making, the paper contributes to a more nuanced understanding of productivity and welfare in semi-arid farming contexts. The findings underscore the need for gender-responsive agricultural policies, labor-saving technologies, and support systems that recognize women’s time constraints as a critical factor in enhancing both agricultural sustainability and household welfare.
Keywords— Women’s time use; Agricultural labor; Crop choice; Household welfare; Gender and agriculture; Semi-arid India
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