Dr A.Anitha, Head & Assistant Professor of Business Administration, Senthamari College of Arts & Science, Madurai

“When women are empowered and can claim their rights and access to land, leadership, opportunities and choices, economies grow, food security is enhanced and prospects are improved for current and future generation”. In agriculture about half of the labour force is being accounted for by females. Females in agriculture households assist the farmers in fields as well as in household activities. As female participation in agriculture production has been underestimated unpaid labour must be closely integrated into the general analysis of labour. In addition to being domestic labour, women contribute to the agricultural labour force and also act as reserves for the job market. Women are overburdened and this is detrimental to the health status of women. In the present paper, an attempt has been made to assess the contribution, challenges and recommendations of women. Women are the major contributors in agriculture and its allied fields. Her work ranges from crop production, and livestock production to cottage industry. From household and family maintenance activities to transporting water, fuel and fodder. Despite such a huge involvement, her role and dignity have yet not been recognized. Women’s status is low by all social, economic, and political indicators. Women spend long hours fetching water, doing laundry, preparing food and carrying out agricultural duties. Not only are these tasks physically hard and demanding, but they also rob girls of the opportunity to study. The nature and sphere of women’s productivity in the labour market are largely determined by socio-cultural and economic factors. Women do not enter the labour market on equal terms when compared to men. Finally, it is concluded that rural women are exploited by landlords for their good and enrichment. Women are treated as sub-servant or personal property. In this regard, the government must formulate policies to enhance their skills and their work indicators.