The seminar was addressed by Mr. Ashok Sharma, BDO, Gairsain, Mrs. Basanti Sharma, ICDS, Mrs. Janki Rawat, ex. Pramukh, Gairsain Block, Mr. S.K Dimri, President, Care In Need Welfare Society, Mr. Maheshanand Juyal, Ex. Member Zila Panchayat, Mr. Girish Dimri, Coordinator, SBMA, Mr. Leeladhar Joshi,Gram Pradhan and Master Trainer.

Rural women are key agents for achieving the transformational economic, environmental and social changes required for sustainable development. But limited access to credit, health care and education are among the many challenges they face, which are further aggravated by the global food and economic crises and climate change. Empowering them is key not only to the well-being of individuals, families and rural communities, but also to overall economic productivity, given women’s large presence in the agricultural workforce worldwide. Women are crucial stakeholders in developing food chains around the world. They play critical roles in all stages of the agri-food chain from growing, processing, logistics and sales, which contribute to agricultural development, the well-being of households and cohesion in communities, especially in remote and rural areas. Despite their contributions, women face unique challenges that hamper their productivity and growth, and in turn weaken rural economies and the businesses that depend on them.

In recognition of women’s challenges and substantial contributions to sustainable and inclusive growth of agri-food chains a seminar titled “Rural Technology and Drudgery Reduction of Women in Hilly Region of District Chamoli, Uttarakhand” was held on 20th June 2024 at Chamoli, Uttarakhand. The event was organized with the objective of providing participants with a comprehensive understanding of the roles, importance, and challenges faced by women in remote areas, focusing on technology and drudgery reduction of women. The seminar brought together experts, speakers, beneficiaries to share models, approaches, and best practices to support women in these regions.

Mr. Girish Dimri provided an overview of the current state of women’s participation in the agrifood chain, highlighting opportunities and challenges. Presentations included case studies from Chamoli and similar regions. He said that the level of education, age of women, land inheritance, distance from house to market centers, and community responsibilities are significant microdeterminants of women participation in agricultural value chain. There is need for adult literacy classes among women farmers in this region, and women of ages 35–59 years are crucial to agricultural production and therefore the government should have specialized agricultural extension workers to attend to their farm needs. He said that the most potential age group of women farmers working in the cultivation of local crops range between 25 -40 years. More than 50 percent of the women farmers have no exposure to formal studies, followed by 30 percent women with primary education. He said that the primary occupation of the women farmers in the region is still local food farming, followed by livestock farming. The primary reason is the experience and comfortability in farmers that has been travelled from generations among people in terms of local food cultivation and majority of women in hills are dependent on their husbands income for daily livelihood.
He further said that similarly any sector which is related to production cannot scale until and unless it is in sync with the latest technology and relevant information, especially in the hill areas where many government policies are focused to uplift the local industries. Hence when asked about the awareness of prevailing govt. policies in the state around 60 % of the women particiapants had no idea. He said that to address issues of gender inequality and promoting women’s empowerment, ICAR calls women the backbone of the Indian economy. While highlighting women’s contributions to agribusiness, the members of the government mentioned numerous policies and mechanisms to support women in the agricultural community.
The seminar saw the participation of members of SHG’s, MMD’s, entrepreneurs, women farmers, representatives from local NGOs, government officials, experts in rural technology and women’s empowerment from district Chamoli, Uttarakhand.

Mr. Ashok Sharma discussed various resources, including technologies, innovations, credits, and support systems, that can be harnessed to promote women's economic empowerment. He said that the rural tech sector presents a myriad of opportunities for start-ups, driven by technological advancements, changing consumer behavior, and supportive governmental policies. He explored the key factors creating a fertile ground for rural tech innovation and entrepreneurship, noting the challenge of reaching all small farmers to provide crucial information and resources.

He highlighted the impact of climate change, explaining that with AI, ML, and satellite imagery, weather forecasting has become more accurate. Start-ups can provide weather-based advisories to help farmers mitigate climate-related risks and promote climate-resilient agriculture practices to protect farmers from adverse effects. The increase in mobile internet and smartphone penetration, especially among those under 35, offers agritech start-ups a unique opportunity to engage digitally with smallholder farmers through innovative solutions. Changing consumer behavior is also a key factor, with a growing demand for clean, chemical-free, and sustainably sourced food. Agritech start-ups can tap into this market by ensuring traceability and addressing supply chain issues. By leveraging new technologies, start-ups can help smallholders produce responsibly, catering to the health-conscious consumer market. Increased government and incubator support is another crucial factor. Governments are increasingly supportive of agritech at both implementation and policy levels. Key incubators and accelerators in India, such as AGRI UDAAN, Centre for Innovation Incubation and Entrepreneurship (CIIE), a-IDEA (Association for Innovation Development for Entrepreneurship in Agriculture), ICRISAT (International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics), THub, Agri-Tech Start-up Accelerator CIE, Hyderabad, and MANAGE Agri-clinics and Agri- Business Centre Incubation Centre, play a crucial role in nurturing agritech start-ups by providing necessary resources, mentorship, and funding.

By leveraging technology, understanding consumer demands, and utilizing government support, these start-ups can address significant challenges and drive sustainable growth in the agriculture sector. Regarding market access issues, intermediaries often control the market and prices. Increasing farmers’ direct access to the market can help maximize their value.

Numerous issues Project Completion Report- Page 5 of 32 contributed to this, including a shortage of funding, irregular election schedules, and insufficient representation of women and scheduled castes/tribes. The Directive Principles of State Policy in the Constitution of India lays down in Article 40 that the government shall facilitate the establishment and smooth functioning of the gram panchayats.

Mrs. Basanti Sharma explored the role of e-commerce in empowering women within the agrifood chain, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges presented by digital marketplaces.

She explained that ‘social commerce’ refers to e-commerce transactions conducted through social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest, differing from traditional e-commerce where buyers browse digital catalogs. Social commerce has become essential for Indian manufacturers, with a significant portion of millennials influenced by social media endorsements. E-commerce companies are leveraging social media to reach younger consumers, and social commerce is emerging as a vital model for small and midsized businesses, enabling efficient product discovery and communication with customers. The ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative supports social commerce by encouraging domestic producers to shift to online sales, fostering technological innovations and global competitiveness. She brought out the fact that in rural areas, the agricultural sector is transitioning to online platforms due to the digital revolution. E-commerce platforms facilitate the buying and selling of agricultural products, connecting farmers directly with consumers and businesses. These platforms also provide access to agricultural equipment, supplies, and expertise, aiming to streamline the supply chain and meet the increasing demands for food safety and health. E-commerce addresses traditional challenges like information asymmetry and price opacity, enhancing farmers’ income stability and product quality. It supports social development and national policy by transforming and upgrading the agricultural industry, improving brand image, visibility, added value, and income for farmers. E-commerce strategies for rural areas are significant for product development, trading, and circulation.
She further said that agricultural development is crucial for global progress, with a significant portion of the poorest populations relying on farming. E-commerce services have emerged in developing countries, offering new ways for farmers to sell their produce and reach buyers. Challenges like climate change, soil degradation, and water shortages threaten rural ecosystems, making sustainable methods and technology access essential. However, rural farmers face market access limitations, insufficient resources, financial restrictions, and lack of expertise, hindering innovation and adaptation. E-commerce can revolutionize rural agriculture by providing market access, product information, and transparency, improving access to inputs and financial services, and offering training through online modules. E-commerce also enhances farmers’ digital literacy, fosters community building, and empowers women and youth by offering business, education, and leadership opportunities. It boosts economic growth by increasing agricultural production, creating jobs, and generating revenue, while promoting sustainable practices.
Challenges to e-commerce adoption in agriculture include limited internet connectivity, low digital literacy, logistical issues, and concerns about product quality and security. Addressing these challenges requires collaborative efforts from government, private sector, civil society, and farmers to improve internet connectivity, enhance digital literacy, build trust and security, address logistics and delivery challenges, and ensure product quality and verification. She concluded by saying that unlocking the potential of e-commerce can significantly boost rural agricultural economies and improve farmers’ livelihoods. With the rise of digital platforms and online marketplaces, women can now reach customers and sell their products or services globally, regardless of their geographic location. E-commerce platforms enable women entrepreneurs to showcase their products, connect with customers and conduct transactions securely and efficiently, breaking down rational barriers to market access.

Mr. Maheshanand Juyal provided valuable information on start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme(SVEP).

He stated that rural entrepreneurship is one of the most sought-after segments today, since if we want to solve the different difficulties in the third-fastest growing economy, with a rural makeup of 68.8%, we must establish new rural companies. So rural entrepreneurship defines itself by producing new job opportunities and new businesses. He emphasised the current rural venture schemes, particularly the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP), which was launched by the Ministry of Rural Development and is backed by the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) and gives long-term employment to village youngsters. He went on to say that the SVEP has adopted an inclusive strategy, concentrating on women, underprivileged communities, and people with low levels of education. Approximately 57% of a family’s total household income was generated by SVEP-funded businesses. The SVEP demonstrates the enormous potential of rural Indian entrepreneurs. We may anticipate seeing more of these programmes and activities in the future to assist India in realising the enormous potential of rural entrepreneurs. India hopes to create a completely new rural startup ecosystem that would provide cutting-edge rural entrepreneurs a lot of options. India aspires to be the world’s largest startup ecosystem; rural entrepreneurs can help make this a reality. Millions of employment will be created as a result, improving the standard of living for millions of families.

Mrs. Janki Rawat said that the farmers face challenges in accessing high-quality agricultural supplies, machinery, and other equipment, which results in low agricultural output or poor crop quality.

Smallholder farmers, due to their small landholdings, struggle to afford agricultural machinery. Farming-as-a-Service (FaaS) models can provide access to advanced equipment. Sensor-based remote and proximity sensing techniques, such as moisture sensing, can reduce agricultural water usage. Crop and livestock insurance are underutilized, and there is a lack of awareness about insurance products, which often offer limited coverage. There is also low adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices like zero-tillage or natural farming to mitigate climate risks. Digital parametric and nonparametric insurance products, along with remote weather and agricultural monitoring, can enhance coverage. Advisory services for farmers and remote monitoring of soil nutrient levels and carbon sequestration can also be beneficial. Govt. of India is creating a centralized database of agricultural data sets linked to farmers based on their land holdings. This will enable rural agritech companies to tailor their offerings and products to meet the specific needs of farmers, which vary according to land size, crop type, and soil conditions.A digital soil-health-card program involves mapping soil composition and quality at the farmer level. This initiative could help rural agritech businesses in India promote precision farming and customize their products for specific farmer groups. The digitally enabled direct benefit transfer in fertilizer sales scheme provides direct subsidies to farmers for fertilizers and other items. It verifies the farmer’s identity at points of sale, reducing leakages in transportation and ensuring affordability for smallholder farmers by increasing fertilizer uptake.

Mr. S.K. Dimri focused on the specific issues in Adopting E-Commerce such as digital infrastructure, training needs, and cultural barriers in Promotion of Women Economic Empowerment in Agri-Food Chain in Rural and Remote Areas.

He began his presentation by highlighting the importance of digitizing agricultural value chains to provide smallholder farmers, especially women, with better access to markets, assets, and services. He said that digital agriculture solutions, such as digital payments and procurement, create efficiencies for both agribusinesses and farmers. Digital procurement can generate records like production data, enabling farmers to access finance and advisory services. However, women farmers are often left behind due to social and structural barriers.

He further said that even though women make up 43% of the agricultural labor force but face challenges such as restrictive social norms, limited access to resources, and a mobile gender gap, making it harder for them to fully participate in and benefit from digitized agricultural value chains. Social norms often confine women to low-value, labor-intensive activities, and they are typically excluded from the most profitable parts of the value chains. Women’s participation in formal agricultural value chains varies, but they are generally expected to engage in unpaid domestic work, limiting their time and mobility for agricultural activities. He also said that the lack of access to resources is a significant barrier for women. Even when they do supply agribusinesses, they often lack access to quality agricultural inputs, equipment, and financial services. Women farmers receive less training and extension services compared to men, further hindering their productivity. Structural constraints like lack of ID documents and low financial literacy also contribute to the productivity gap between male and female farmers.

He brought out the fact that women are also less likely to be digitally included than men, reducing their ability to use digital agriculture solutions. Barriers to digital inclusion include lack of access to mobile phones, affordability issues, lower literacy and digital skills, safety concerns, and perceived irrelevance of mobile products and services. Women are less likely to own mobile phones, afford data plans, or have the confidence to use digital technology. They also face safety concerns when using mobile services and interacting with male agents. As a solution to overcome these challenges and to increase women’s participation in digitized value chains, he said that a gender-inclusive approach is essential which involves understanding the business case for reaching women farmers, defining a gender-inclusive strategy, and implementing foundational interventions to create a supportive environment. According to him, addressing women’s barriers through targeted interventions and involving male community members to challenge gender roles are also crucial. Gender-inclusive solutions must consider social norms and aim to empower women by improving their decision-making power and participation in the agricultural value chain.

Mr. Leeladhar Joshi emphasized the significant role of rural women in agriculture and related agro-based activities. He highlighted the demanding and strenuous daily work schedules these women undertake. Women form the backbone of the agricultural workforce worldwide, yet their labor is often unpaid. They handle some of the most laborious and physically demanding tasks in agriculture, animal husbandry, and household chores.

Empirical evidence shows that women play a crucial role in ensuring food security and preserving local agro-biodiversity. They are involved in every aspect of agricultural activities and participate actively in allied sectors such as cattle management, dairying, beekeeping, goat rearing, mushroom production, and poultry farming. Rural women shoulder significant responsibilities in the integrated management and utilization of diverse natural resources to meet household needs on a daily basis. With increasing male migration, there is a noticeable trend of “feminization” in the agricultural sector, where women farmers are assuming multiple roles as cultivators, entrepreneurs, laborers, and leaders across all stages of production, from pre-harvest to processing, packaging, marketing, and throughout the agricultural value chain.
He said that agriculture is a vital business in India. It provides both direct and indirect support for a number of smallholder farming households. Almost one billion people work in agriculture worldwide, and it is entwined with many different sectors. More than 608 million smallholder farmers worldwide produce almost 35% of the world’s food on less than two hectares of land. In order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of eradicating poverty and hunger by 2030, these farmers are crucial actors. Continuous agricultural growth is essential for maintaining livelihoods, boosting GDP, and guaranteeing food self-sufficiency in many rising economies. He further said that a key factor in increasing agricultural productivity is smallholders. Hence, in many emerging economies, sustained agricultural growth is essential to maintain livelihoods, drive GDP, and ensure food self-sufficiency. The National Agriculture Market (eNAM) connects existing Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) mandis, creating a unified national market for agricultural commodities. This pan-Indian electronic trading platform ensures better pricing for farmers through a transparent auction process.

The Agricultural Accelerator Fund and digital public infrastructure: The government has established a new fund to promote the agritech ecosystem, potentially fostering new start-ups that will enhance digital usage and expand the range of digital solutions available to farmers. Additionally, the government announced plans to establish an open-source digital public infrastructure, likely providing agritech companies with vital information services along the value chain. The last session included the participants sharing personal experiences, success stories, and challenges faced in efforts to empower women through rural technology and e-commerce. They said that they face unique challenges that hinder their economic empowerment and access to opportunities. These challenges range from limited access to education and healthcare to social and cultural barriers that restrict their participation in the workforce and entrepreneurship.

One of the primary challenges faced by many women is limited access to resources and support for entrepreneurship. Many women who have startup ideas struggle to find the necessary funding and support to turn their vision into reality. Additionally, the lack of networking opportunities, making it difficult for women to access markets and connect with potential investors and partners The participants brought out the fact that despite putting in more efforts in farming, they ultimately rely on their spouses, fathers, brothers, or sons to acquire legal privileges on holdings and avoid the needed paperwork. Due to the absence of legal titles; Uttarakhand women are unable to access facilities like crop insurance despite shouldering the bulk of the farm work. Farmers are almost exclusively male, even though the word is gender neutral. They said that they want to acknowledge that women are farmers as well. Likewise, property rights must be better utilized by more and more women in the state. At the grassroots level, where agricultural livelihoods dominate, there’s an urgent need to create opportunities for women. For this, policies which empower women to improve their agricultural skills and knowledge would be beneficial. Thus because of the difficult terrain and the growers’ limited bargaining and handling capacity due to smaller holding sizes and a lack of resources, it is obvious that the hilly regions of the state require special attention in terms of marketing interventions and infrastructure.