A Study on the Challenges Faced by Landless Women Agriculture Labourers in Tamilnadu

Abstract

The Economic Survey 2024-25 reveals that the agriculture sector still remains the front-runner in fetching employment. In 2023, 45.8 per cent of employment was in the agriculture sector which has amplified to 46.1 per cent in the year 2023-24. Its share in employment was just 44.1 per cent in 2017-18. In other words, dependence on agriculture for employment has increased by two per cent in the last six years. The Economic Survey 2024-25 further reveals that the share of industry and services sector in employment has seen a decline, failing to fetch desired employment to the booming population as expected.

The survey document, quoting the report of the Periodic Labor Force Survey (PLFS) 2023-24, said that during the period between 2017-18 to 2023-24, women’s participation in agriculture sector increased by about 7.5 per cent and men’s participation decreased by about 4 per cent. The Economic Survey also says female agricultural employment has increased from 73.2 per cent in 2017-18 to 76.9 per cent in 2023-24 while male participation has declined from 55 per cent to 49.4 per cent.

Against this background recognising the importance of the primary sector how the fair sex fares in the agricultural sector as labourers, this study was conducted in Tamil Nadu. The rice bowl of Tamil Nadu is Thanjavur District, which is the main contributor to the agriculture of the state still, is taken as the representative sample district. Surveying 200 landless agricultural labourers randomly in this Thanjavur District in November 2025, this study was conducted. It elaborates the key challenges faced by them in their agricultural work.