Agriculture is the lifeblood of the economy in most developing countries particularly in India.Rural woman

plays an important role in the growth and development of agriculture and allied sector. Rural women constitute

a large proportion of population in rural India. According to 2011 census, there were 54.60 percent of

population engaged in agriculture and allied activities. It contributes 17.40 percent to the country’s Gross

Value Added. Poverty is more for women living in rural households. Women’s poverty is directly related to

the absence of economic opportunities and autonomy. Rural women in India are concentrated on agriculture to

much larger extend than men. Agriculture sector constitutes bulk women workers of which large number of

agricultural sector than men. Women account for nearly 70 per cent of agricultural labour, highlighting their

essential involvement in its progress. Participation in agricultural activities increases women’s financial

independence and aids in poverty reduction. This paper aim to understand the Contribution of Rural Women

through Agripreneurship and their socio-economic empowerment.

Keywords: Rural Women, Sustainable growth, Rural household, Agriculture Sector.

Agripreneurship is the process of adopting new methods, processes, techniques in agriculture or the allied

sectors of agriculture, for better output and economic earnings. Agripreneurship converts agricultural activity

into an entrepreneurial activity.

Agriculture today faces many challenges, including globalisation and market liberalisation, food price crises,

encompasses transforming an idea or vision into a “new business or new venture creation, or the expansion of

an existing business, by an individual, a team of individuals, or an established business” (Reynolds et al. 1999,

cited by Global Entrepreneurship Monitor).

But entrepreneurship, as opposed to self-employment, is also defined by the spirit of the entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneurs are usually creative, take opportunities and accept risks, and can quickly change business

strategies to adapt to changing environments. They are often innovators (Kahan, 2012). While usually being

innovative and creative, farmers often lack experiences, access to services, people, or markets, and skills to

have realistic chances to succeed as entrepreneurs (Wongtschowski et al. 2013). In addition, agripreneurs are

influenced by external, systemic factors, such as economic and social barriers, policies, and regulations (Kahan

2012). While these constraints affect all farmers and especially all smallholders, women and youth are

According to Satish S Uplaonkar, Sharanagoud S Biradar identified that the study is intended to find out the

role of Agripreneurs in agriculture development in India.

Agripreneurship is a Strategy for upliftment of Agriculture and Economic Growth of India.

After economic liberalization, entrepreneurial activity is playing an important role in socioeconomic

development of people in India especially Women living in the rural areas.

Providing access to finance, training, and market opportunities to enable them to generate income through

small businesses or agricultural activities.

Education and skill development:

Ensuring access to quality education and training programs to equip them with necessary skills for better

employment opportunities and decision-making.

Improving access to healthcare services, including reproductive health, to promote wellbeing and reduce

maternal mortality rates.

Rural women play a crucial role in food production and household economies, and their empowerment

contributes to overall economic growth. Empowering rural women can significantly reduce poverty levels

within communities. Empowering rural women is essential for achieving sustainable development goals,

including gender equality and environmental protection.

Social-economic empowerment is the process of liberating people and communities from cycles of poverty and

assigned social roles and giving them the resources (employment, education, health services, etc.) to raise their

and their communities' social and economic opportunities.

Agripreneurship defined as “generally, sustainable, community-oriented, directly-marketed agriculture.

Different types of ventures in agri-business.

increase the production by making effective use of the technology, possessions and demand in the

market.

services requisite at the village level. These include the input borrowing and distribution, hiring of the

various equipment’s like tractors, sprayers, seed drills, threshers, harvesters `dryers and scientific

services such as setting up of irrigation amenities, weed curb, plant security, yielding, threshing,

conveyance, warehouse, are some related opportunities exist in the livestock husbandry sector for

providing breeding, immunization, disease diagnostic and treatment services, apart from allocation of

support, fishery, sericulture and poultry as well, during sponsorship of critical service amenities in rural

areas.

requires higher level of knowledge as well as investment. Such Venture can be handled by People’s

Organizations’, either in the form of cooperatives, service joint stock companies or societies. The most

successful instances are the dairy

Cooperatives sugar cooperatives, and fruit growers’ cooperatives in lots of States. However, the success of

Need for Agripreneurship development in India:

Encouraging agricultural entrepreneurship will completely solve the issue and will create jobs for young

people in remote areas, limiting the flow of people from rural to urban areas, increase the country's income,

encourage the industrial growth in rural areas, reduces the strain on metropolitan areas. In addition more

educated youth might increase agricultural output, enhance food security, and help achieve the Goals about

ending hunger. It can contribute to the expansion of the agricultural industry and the long-desired

transformation of agriculture in India. This argues that while improving their skills and ability for agricultural

development, more young people need to be encouraged to engage in agripreneurship. Considering this,

Agripreneurs, are lacking of technical expertise, a lack of institutional support, a lack of government and

bank support, risk and marketing issues, a lack of extension services, a lack of adequate market knowledge,

high costs, a lack of government subsidies and policies, and a lack of better infrastructure facilities.. Effective

planning and policy intervention could aid in improving the agricultural sector and helping to develop potential

solutions for rural residents who are disadvantaged.

When the government announces favourable policies and implements appropriate and workable marketing

methods, agripreneurs will be greatly motivated. In order to reduce youth unemployment, there is an increasing

need for initiatives. The Indian government and its development partners have launched coordinated

initiatives, with a specific concentration on agriculture, aimed at encouraging a move away from traditional

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA) mandates that at least

one third of the jobs generated under the scheme (MGNREGS) should be given to women.

Yojna, Swacch Vidyalaya Mission, Swachchh Bharat Mission, etc. In order to enhance the employability of

female workers, the Government is providing training to them through a network of Women Industrial

Training institutes, National Vocational Training Institutes and Regional Vocational Training Institutes. To

ensure economic independence of women through skill development and vocational training, the Government

has also introduced Skill India Mission.

input supply and services.

Innovation Journal.

of investigating attitude and intention in the usage of variable rate irrigation technology.

A conceptual model. Man in India, 96(5), 1633-1641.

satisfaction: exploring the effect of demographics and emporographics. Journal of Innovation and

Entrepreneurship.