Women account for 59% of all those engaged in skilled and subsistence agricultural work. according to the 1991 census. This work employs over 70% of rural women classified as employed. While the 1991 census takes account of subsistence agriculture for the first time, it does not capture the full involvement of women in the work force as it overlooks the participation of many "homemakers" (22.4% of the women who are classified as not economically active) in agriculture and other productive activities.
A comparison of the employment status of the economically active population in rural areas shows that many more women than men are own account or unpaid family workers.
Status of Economically Active Population in Rural Areas
Source: 1991 Census. I
Division of Labour by Gender. Women carry out the bulk of domestic and agricultural work. Both women and men participate in land preparation, ploughing, planting, weeding, harvesting and threshing. Men are primarily responsible for herding and marketing livestock, while women are responsible for food processing, and for collecting water and wood for domestic use, the principal source of fuel for the majority of rural households.
Gender Relations in Decision-making in Farming Activities. Overall, women have an unequal say in decision-making, although women's freedom to make decisions varies by type of household and region. In female-headed households, women are more likely to make decisions jointly with other household members. In male-headed households, ale-headed households, men are more likely to make decisions, although joint decision-making is commonplace.
