The Unseen Struggles of Rural Women in Agriculture – A Deep Dive into India’s Groundwater Crisis

During my summer internship with the Reimagining Society, I embarked on a journey to rural India, where I had the privilege of meeting several families who rely heavily on agriculture for their livelihoods. Among them, the stories of rural women stood out. These women, who form the backbone of agricultural labor, face a multitude of challenges that often go unnoticed in larger policy discussions. While I expected to hear about the usual suspects—lack of mechanization, insufficient training, and inadequate storage facilities—what struck me most was the unexpected revelation of the groundwater crisis. This issue, coupled with the rising cost of staples, has created a perfect storm of hardship for these communities.

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Expected Challenges: Mechanization, Training, and Storage

Before delving into the groundwater issue, it’s essential to address the more expected challenges that rural women in agriculture face. When I spoke with women working on their family farms, many of them shared their frustrations about the lack of mechanization. While some men in the community were using non-mechanical tools like the phawra, these tools are labor-intensive, and women, who are often burdened with both agricultural and household responsibilities, find it particularly challenging to balance the physical labor required in farming with their other duties.

The absence of proper training was another recurrent theme. Many women expressed a desire to learn more modern farming techniques, but training programs, especially those designed with a focus on women, are rare. They spoke of how traditional farming methods, passed down through generations, are no longer enough to cope with the changing climate and soil conditions. The women acknowledged the need for knowledge about efficient irrigation techniques, pest control, and crop diversification, all of which could enhance their agricultural output and resilience.

Then there’s the issue of storage. In many rural areas, once the crops are harvested, there are very few facilities available to store them, leading to significant post-harvest losses. For these women, the lack of proper storage solutions meant that much of their hard-earned harvest was lost to spoilage, pests, or market delays. These women knew that with better infrastructure, they could sell their produce at higher prices during off-peak seasons, but the lack of investment in storage continued to trap them in a cycle of loss.

The Groundwater Crisis: An Unseen Struggle

While these challenges were not surprising, what took me aback was the extent of the groundwater crisis. The women I spoke to described how the water table in their region had dropped by more than 30 meters in the last few years. The implications of this are staggering. With groundwater being the primary source of irrigation for most of these farms, its depletion has made it increasingly difficult for them to cultivate crops.

As we discussed their day-to-day challenges, the women revealed the extent of their reliance on tube wells, which have now become ineffective due to the receding water levels. Some families have had to abandon sections of their farmland, as they simply cannot access water to keep their crops alive. Others are forced to buy water at exorbitant prices, further driving up the cost of farming and diminishing their already meager profits.

This water crisis has had a direct impact on crop yields, especially for staples like wheat, rice, and pulses. Without enough water to irrigate their fields, the women face reduced yields, and this has been compounded by the rising cost of agricultural inputs like seeds and fertilizers.

Rising Costs of Staples: A Harsh Reality

When we began comparing the costs of staples over the past four years, the numbers were alarming. The price of wheat, for instance, had skyrocketed by nearly 100%, while pulses had increased by more than 200%. These price hikes are unsustainable for rural families, many of whom grow these staples for their own consumption. The women explained how the combination of rising input costs, poor yields due to the water crisis, and a lack of market access has left them struggling to feed their families.

I could see the frustration and fear in their faces as they spoke about how they are barely able to keep up with the rising costs of living. For many of them, farming has become a precarious occupation. It is no longer the reliable source of sustenance and income it once was. Instead, it has turned into a gamble, where the odds seem increasingly stacked against them.

What I learned

This experience was a poignant reminder of the importance of the work we are doing with the SDG Impact Tracker. The struggles faced by these rural women directly align with several of the Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 5: Gender Equality, SDG 2: Zero Hunger, and SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation. The case study I am helping develop seeks to highlight initiatives that address these very issues.

One of the critical takeaways from my discussions with these women was the urgent need for policies that address not only the lack of mechanization and training but also the deeper environmental challenges like groundwater depletion. The SDG Impact Tracker will play a crucial role in helping organizations quantify the returns on investments made to tackle these issues. By measuring the success of projects aimed at improving irrigation efficiency, introducing sustainable farming practices, or providing access to water-saving technologies, we can ensure that funds are directed where they are needed most.

Additionally, the rising cost of staples and the broader economic pressures faced by rural families underscore the need for a holistic approach to policy advocacy. It's not enough to focus on one issue at a time—mechanization, training, storage, and water management must all be addressed simultaneously if we are to create a sustainable agricultural future for these communities.

As I continue my internship, these conversations with rural women in India have deeply influenced my understanding of the challenges facing the agricultural sector. Their resilience, despite the overwhelming obstacles, is a testament to the strength of these communities. However, without immediate intervention—whether through better training, improved storage facilities, or innovative water management solutions—the future of farming in these regions looks increasingly bleak.

Through the SDG Impact Tracker, we hope to bring attention to these issues on a global scale, providing actionable data that can drive meaningful change. The women I met in rural India deserve more than just survival—they deserve the tools and resources to thrive, and it is our responsibility to ensure they receive them.