2023, Vol. 8, Special Issue 6

The rural economy in India is traditionally based on Agriculture, livestock and household activities. Rice is the principal food crop of North Bihar. Farm women play an important role in rice-based farming system in different farms of work to generate employment and income. They play multiple roles and make productive inputs in terms of work hours and contribute equivalent income to the family. Therefore, they have multiple employment status, ranging from unpaid family worker to paid wage work in their home or village or outside in rendering services in exchange of goods and services (ILO Report, 1975).

In North Bihar, there is large scale seasonal or long-term migration of male members for outside jobs for service, business, construction work and wage labour in agriculture when the women folk become the sole architect of management of agriculture and household activities including decision making at the native place. Hence, any understanding of process of production would remain incomplete, unless the role of women and their participation in agriculture particularly in rice-based farming system is not analysed.