Collective Farming

A main strategy is the promotion of collective farming of Dalit women. SRED believes that accessing women’s political right includes ensuring their rightful participation in agricultural production. 

Dalit women presently constitute 60% of the agricultural labour force, yet they only own 13.96% ofagricultural landsper the Agricultural Census 2015-2016.Women cannot inherit or own land, thus making them economically dependent on others. They cannot access benefits from the state, they are not recognized as farmers and are regarded in very low status in society. Discriminatory practices deny them their basic rights, even though the Hindu Succession Act and Land Reform Act recognize their right to share in family properties. Dalit women are farmers and agricultural workers. They are primary food producers. They have every right to land ownership and access to resources.

Land and political rights are essential tools for the assertion of women empowerment. With SRED’s support, through the years, Dalit women have successfully reclaimed acres of illegally occupied lands in their names and facilitated access to common property resources and government entitlements. This is not common practice and therefore a major breakthrough achievement for Dalit women. 

The conditions of Dalit and indigenous women were changed and improved after they started owning their lands and making independent decisions over their collective farming. They have claimed the rights to decide on land cultivation, seed preservation and preference of crops, including the practice of organic farming and agroecology. Collective farming has earned them food security and food sovereignty -- their produce are shared within their collectives and with other landless women. These victories and efforts have encouraged and inspired more Dalit women to build movements, reclaim more lands and practice collective farming in their respective communities. 

Through the collective farming, Dalit women can support each other and their communities in agricultural and organic production, be self-sustaining and promote food sovereignty and agroecology efforts for environmental sustainability.