Mains Practice Questions

Introduction

The commercialization of agriculture, driven by market-oriented production, mechanization, and agribusiness integration, has significantly transformed rural social structures and gender relations. While it has increased rural incomes and agricultural productivity, it has also widened socio-economic inequalities, altered traditional labor dynamics, and reinforced gender disparities in rural India.

Body

Impact on Rural Social Structures:

• Emergence of Agrarian Capitalism and Class Stratification
  • The shift from subsistence farming to cash crops and contract farming has benefited large landowners while marginalizing small and landless farmers.
    • Tenant farmers and sharecroppers often struggle due to rising input costs, leading to rural indebtedness and migration.
• Decline of Traditional Caste-Based Occupations
  • Commercialization has reduced dependence on the jajmani (traditional service) system, leading to the breakdown of caste-based labor divisions.
  • Mechanization has displaced Dalits and lower-caste laborers, who historically worked as manual agricultural laborers.
• Changes in Land Ownership Patterns
  • The rising demand for land for agribusiness, contract farming, and corporate farming has led to land consolidation in the hands of a few.
  • Land leasing and tenancy agreements have become common, leading to insecure land tenure for small and marginal farmers.

Impact on Gender Relations:

• Feminization of Agriculture without Empowerment
  • Due to male migration, 75% of women workers in rural India are now employed in agriculture, but they lack land ownership and access to credit, technology, and inputs.
  • Women’s increased workload has not translated into greater financial autonomy, as land titles remain male-dominated (only 13% of women own land in India).
• Shift in Household Gender Roles
  • Women have taken up additional responsibilities in farming, yet they continue to bear the burden of domestic chores and caregiving.
  • Decision-making in agricultural activities is still dominated by male family members, despite the increasing role of women in agricultural production.
• Gender Disparities in Wages and Employment Opportunities
  • Women agricultural workers are paid 20-30% less than men for the same work.
  • Commercialization has led to job losses for women in traditional farm-based activities like seed preservation, food processing, and livestock rearing, which are now mechanized or industrialized.
• Rise of Women’s Cooperatives and SHGs
  • To counter male-dominated agricultural policies, women have organized into Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and cooperatives (e.g., SEWA, Kudumbashree in Kerala) to gain financial and social empowerment.
  • Initiatives like Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) aim to recognize and strengthen women’s role in agriculture.

Conclusion

The commercialization of agriculture in rural India has widened class and gender inequalities, favoring large landowners while marginalizing small farmers and women. Despite rising female participation, institutional barriers persist in land rights, credit, and decision-making. Policy measures like land reforms, gender-sensitive policies, and inclusive credit access are crucial for equitable rural development.