Gender as socioeconomic variable

The socio-economic profile of respondent plays a very dynamic role in social science research in general, and agriculture in particular. It is a joint indicator of the economic and social status of an individual or a group in relation to society. As a consequence, it determines one’s quality of life and source of income pattern, accessibility to the public resources, food security of household, etc. It provides instruction to the behavioural and psychosomatic factors of a sample through skills and knowledge. Furthermore, it provides methodology, application, change predisposition, capacity to bear risk, economic motivation, etc. (Roy, Chandra, Kharbikar, Joshi & Jethi, 2013). Indian economy is primarily an agricultural economy and gender is considered as a key socioeconomic variable having enough competency to impact both the extent and value of agricultural goods (Doss, 2002).

It has been found that in pastoral markets mainstream women population perform agricultural tasks in their daily lives. Horticulture directly influences economic activities of J&K where people mostly are dependable on horticulture sector particularly cash crops. The chief horticulture product of Kashmir that has wide market and higher productivity is saffron playing a significant role in its economy. Therefore, agriculture scientists and saffron researchers in present times are curious to see if it is true for saffron crop in Pampore, saffron town, where 80 % of saffron is produced and which has been documented as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) site by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in June 2011.

As saffron industry approaches harvesting time in mid-October, the tenacious freezing out or marginalization of women in the saffron industry demands critical evaluation. In spite of dominating the scene during harvesting time in J&K, women have remained largely unseen in the Saffron Wudars or Karewa landscape. They are often seen as appreciated only as drawing cards during saffron meetings or field visits by experts or higher authorities but not as the main protagonists in shaping the future of the saffron industry by reducing the problems and improving the prospects. This neglect of women as a labour is not just a matter of lapse but a structural concern driven by socio-cultural-economic customs coupled with the lack of pragmatic policies aimed at encouraging her active involvement in all stages. This marginalization basically has its roots in profound gender bias in preferences and outcomes, in resource accessibility, innovation and technology, and decision-making power within the saffron industry in precise form and agriculture industry in generic form.

Empirical research studies on saffron farming in Jammu and Kashmir confirm fewer roles of women in saffron farming (Qadri, 2019). No doubt, they contribute significantly during harvest and post-harvest operations but by and large their participation is ignored and therefore gets unnoticed. Family labour involved in saffron cultivation is one of the main determinants of investment in saffron cultivation in Jammu and Kashmir.

The family labour has a positive impact on saffron investment. In view of that, it will be very important that they will be provided greater incentives to invest given the higher exposure to risk that arise due to their low economic status. Accordingly, there is high probability that the moment their role in farming activities becomes commercially cost-effective it will be unnoticed by commercial agriculture. Women are a patience queen and are well versed with the household management and allocation of resources. In family farms, women must actively participate.

Similarly, in saffron farms the role of women must be highlighted right from the stage of production to marketing and distribution. They must be encouraged to go to farms and participate actively. Schemes should be launched to boost family farming and role of women in farming and encourage investments in saffron. It has been seen that policies that aim at boosting income and productivity levels of farms have the tendency to bring convergence of strong anti-poverty forces in agricultural low income economies (Ashby et al., 2009). Such policies should be promoted at both national and international level.