Increasing Women Hiring and Participation in the Agriculture Sector | Bijender Vats | CHRO | Crystal Crop Protection Ltd

Women are playing a dynamic role in almost all fields of the world today, and the agriculture sector has not been exceptional in this aspect. According to NITI Ayog, agriculture remains the largest employer of rural women in India, and it engages about 80% of the female population in rural areas. From ensuring market access for vital agricultural inputs to availing the latest technologies to enhance productivity, women are important actors for rural development. It is, therefore, crucial to identify the rightful place for equipping women, especially in food markets, in order to advance the subject of parity for women as well as achieve optimal productivity in the sector. At the same time, HR professionals are introducing approaches to the challenges of the contemporary environment and ensuring the further development of the organization.

In India, where agriculture plays a crucial role in the economy, DE&I stands as an emergent factor that can help transform the sector and drive sustainable growth. Specifically, the agrochemical manufacturing industry is at the forefront of improving DE&I in HR, thus driving employment expansion in the agriculture sector.

Here’s a look at the strategies aimed at boosting women’s hiring and participation in agriculture while ensuring their safety, empowerment, and advancement:

Recognizing Women’s Impact in Agriculture Sector
Female employees working in the agriculture sales sector play an important role in the development of the industry as they are highly devoted and skilled. They directly interact with farmers, offering products and services to improve crop production and farm conduct. Their responsibility goes beyond making sales; they usually act as experts, providing relevant solutions to the farmers’ problems based on their needs. Thus, acknowledging and appreciating the roles of women as important agents in agricultural marketing is crucial in order to empower them and other rural communities.

Creating Supportive Work Environments
Creating a safe working environment, promoting the welfare of females employed in agricultural sales, and ensuring they are well trained for the job effectively are crucial for them to stay in the sector. It is imperative for agricultural enterprises to ensure compliance with policies that support gender equality and women as sales agents at workplaces. This includes the adoption of effective policies against workplace harassment and discrimination, as well as the provision of effective training and mentorship programs and acting on ways to enhance career growth and leadership among the workers. Therefore, agricultural companies interested in building a robust and qualified female workforce need to embrace women and empower them to become competent and professional contributors.

Tailoring Marketing and Outreach Strategies
Women farmers are likely to become strong contributors to agricultural development only if appropriate approaches to marketing and sharing information about agricultural services are employed. To better address the needs of women and their consumers, agricultural companies were encouraged to employ gender-sensitive strategies in promoting their products. This may entail creating campaigns that are tailored for reaching out to women in agriculture, using online media to reach out to the targeted audiences, and creating the means through which women in agriculture can be connected, trained, or encouraged to participate in relevant workshops. Overall, it is imperative that agricultural companies adapt their marketing techniques to address women in agriculture so as to improve recruitment and expand positive change throughout rural areas.

Promoting Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment
Training women in agriculture is not just about offering employment, but also a path to entrepreneurship and economic independence. Agriculture offers employment opportunities for many women, and there are many who want to expand their enterprises and leadership roles. These goals can be supported by the mentorship of agricultural enterprises in financing and resource provision, as well as partnership and cooperative opportunities. Thus, by cultivating entrepreneurship and innovation among women in agriculture, agricultural companies may help the concerned industries achieve sustainable development by contributing to a longer-term revolution in the rural economy.

Harnessing Technology for Excellence
Technology is highly impactful in enhancing the opportunities for women in agriculture by increasing their productivity and providing coverage and value-adding services to farmers. For instance, through applications on mobile technology and technology-enabled market interaction platforms, women are able to manage orders and customer relationships, as well as obtain market intelligence and product information. In addition, promoting other forms of investment, such as digital literacy and training, can help females obtain the knowledge and skills to navigate the digital platform, thereby leading to business success.

Empowering Women for Agricultural Success!
Enhancing women’s roles in agriculture is not only an issue of gender equity but also serves as a foundation for improved provincial advancement and enduring livelihoods. With the acknowledgment of women’s contribution, setting up a favorable environment for employees, targeting the female market, encouraging women to become entrepreneurs, and utilizing information technologies, agricultural businesses can benefit from women contributors and bring about change in rural areas. Thus, it is essential for society to support women in their endeavors towards being agents of change and key players in the agricultural industry for the betterment of the human race.