Postage Stamp on Women Farmers Campaign

This campaign was organised around the idea of asking that a commemorative stamp be created as a means of symbolically celebrating the centrality of women farmers to the economy and agriculture of the region, by:

• fostering understanding of the social construction of gender and gender inequalities and creating gender sensitivity
• enhancing women farmers' status, rights, and recognition by influencing various sectors to further gender mainstreaming in policy, planning and programmes
• making people aware of the role that women farmers play in India's development, economic prosperity, and food security.

GEAG began its advocacy campaign by writing letters/postcards to the President of India, the Prime Minister of India, the Minister of Agriculture, and the Minister of Communications, as well as personnel such as the Chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance. The letter featured a mock-up stamp with a photographic image of a woman farmer from Uttaranchal, holding a small sythe in her mouth and a bunch of wheat in her hands, with the words "a woman farmer at work". Along with this image, the GEAG mailing also carried a written appeal to the President, sharing various statistics (for a sample, see "Key Points," below) as part of an effort to convince him to issue this stamp or any other to officially highlight the role of women farmers.

Community participation was a component of this effort as well. Members of the public were asked to mail postcards directly to the President to express their support for the idea of a commemorative stamp. In addition, the official GEAG letter indicated that a delegation of 5-6 women farmers from UP along with select representatives of voluntary organisations were seeking a personal, face-to-face meeting with the recipient(s) of the advocacy letter(s). The purpose of these meetings would be to enable women farmers to directly and openly share their feelings, experiences, problems and grievances - hopefully raising awareness and motivating action.

Agriculture, Women, Gender.

A study conducted by the UP state government's Department of Agriculture shows that nearly 84% of all economically active women in India are engaged in agriculture and allied activities. There are 75 million women, versus 15 million men in dairy farming; the number of women engaged in animal husbandry accounts for 20 million, versus 1.5 million men.

Despite these figures, GEAG claims, women's contribution tends to be downplayed or ignored. A 2002-2003 study conducted by GEAG in UP revealed that, although UP is the highest contributor of foodgrains to the national food stock, its female agricultural labourers receive the lowest daily wage - Rs 49. In UP, only 6% of rural women legally own land while joint ownership over the land is just 3%, according to the study. GEAG states that "women farmers perform more than 70% of agricultural activities in India and other developing countries as well. They contribute significantly towards the development processes, economic prosperity, social development and self-reliance of the country. Their hard work is the key to food security of the nation right from household to the national levels....Despite all their significant contributions...women farmers are far away from mainstream of the development."

GEAG is a voluntary organisation that has worked with small and marginal farmers, including women farmers, on issues related to sustainable livelihoods since 1975. GEAG's people-centred, participatory approach is designed to empower UP dwellers by helping them to recognise and draw on their own knowledge, challenge traditional myths and concepts, stimulate awareness of their rights, and promote experiential learning.