Invisible hands and visible inequality in Pakistan’s agriculture

Agriculture forms the backbone of Pakistan’s rural economy, and within this system, women are indispensable contributors. Their labour keeps farms functional, supports household earnings, and sustains food production across the country.

Yet, despite their pivotal role, women remain the most under-appreciated and least recognized section of the agricultural workforce. Gender discrimination is deeply embedded in rural labour relations, shaping who gets hired, who gets paid, and who holds decision-making power. Tasks such as cotton picking and okra harvesting, where women make up the majority of workers, reveal the unequal realities that continue to define women’s role in Pakistan’s agriculture.

Women’s presence in farming is extensive and multifaceted. They participate in planting, weeding, sowing, fodder cutting, vegetable harvesting, and livestock care. However, cotton harvesting has long been considered the domain of women, not because the work is easy but because it is work-intensive, repetitive, and poorly paid. In the cotton belts of Punjab and Sindh, women begin their work early in the morning, often walking long distances to reach fields. They manually pick cotton under harsh sunlight, carrying heavy loads on their backs, and return home only after meeting daily quotas. Despite these physical demands, their wages remain far lower than those of men performing similar agricultural tasks. This wage gap reflects more than income disparity; it exposes a deep-rooted perception that women’s farm labour is secondary rather than central to agriculture.

Okra harvesting presents another example of gendered assumption. Women are preferred because okra requires delicate harvesting and careful picking to avoid damaging the vegetable. The task must be performed repeatedly throughout the season, which means long hours spent standing in fields. Okra can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions, yet women are rarely provided gloves or protective gear.

Their work is physically strenuous, but it is seldom recognized as skilled labour. Men who assist occasionally receive better wages, while women who perform the bulk of the harvesting continue to work for minimal wages. This disparity illustrates how gender discrimination restricts women’s economic advancement even when they contribute more labour hours than men.

Beyond wage discrimination, women face systemic obstacles that affect every aspect of their work. Most women farm-workers in Pakistan do not own land. They work on ancestral fields, as daily wage labourers, or through informal agreements where their contribution is neither recorded nor valued. Without land tenure, women have limited access to credit, farming equipment, or government agricultural support schemes. They often depend on male relatives to attend training programmes or interact with extension workers, which limit their ability to learn new techniques or adopt improved farming practices.

Mobility constraints also play a pivotal role in shaping women’s participation in agriculture. Cultural norms in rural communities often discourage women from traveling alone, visiting markets, or attending public events. As a result, they remain excluded from spaces where agricultural knowledge is shared and decisions are made. Even when women are responsible for most field work, they are seldom consulted about crop choices, input purchases, or marketing strategies. This exclusion reinforces the stereotype that women’s labour is manual rather than intellectual, further restricting their opportunity for advancement.

Gender discrimination is also reflected in the working conditions women face in cotton fields, vegetable farms, and orchards. Women often work without access to shade, drinking water, or sanitation facilities. They receive little information about pesticide exposure, even though cotton fields are heavily sprayed. Many women handle chemicals without awareness of health risks, which results in respiratory problems, skin infections, and long-term illnesses. Young girls frequently accompany their mothers to fields because affordable childcare is unavailable. This not only exposes them to harsh working environments but also interrupts their education, continuing the cycle of limited prospects for the next generation.

Despite these challenges, services of women remain essential to Pakistan’s agricultural output. Their role in cotton collecting directly supports the textile industry, which is among the country’s largest economic sectors. Similarly, their role in okra harvesting and other vegetable production supports regional markets, export earnings, and household nutrition. Women also perform countless unpaid tasks such as seed cleaning, crop sorting, drying, and food preparation, all of which are critical to sustaining agricultural livelihoods. Yet these forms of labour remain outside official economic statistics, contributing to the persistent invisibility of women’s work.

Dealing with gender discrimination in agriculture requires acknowledging women as farmers, not helpers. Empowerment begins with fair wages. Ensuring that women receive equal pay for equal work would significantly improve household incomes and decrease poverty in rural areas. Legal frameworks exist but are rarely implemented in informal farm labour markets. Local monitoring bodies, farmer unions, and community-based organizations can play a crucial role in ensuring adherence and enabling women to report exploitation.

Access to education and skill development is equally important. Many women have the capability to become skilled farmers, entrepreneurs, or agricultural leaders, but their opportunities are restricted by social norms and lack of institutional support. Increasing the number of female agricultural extension officers could help bridge communication gaps and encourage more women to participate in training programmes. Providing protective equipment such as gloves, masks, and appropriate clothing would improve workplace safety in cotton picking and okra harvesting, while awareness initiatives could reduce health risks related to pesticide exposure.

Women’s empowerment also depends on enhancing their access to land and financial services. Joint land titles, micro-credit programmes designed for women, and simplified loan procedures can help women become more independent economic contributor. Digital tools such as mobile banking, farm advisory apps, and online marketplaces can further enhance their involvement in agricultural value chains. With proper support, women can move from low-paid labour to better-paid, skilled roles such as nursery management, seed production, livestock care, or value-added processing.

Gender equality in agriculture facilitates not only women but entire communities. When women make more money, household nutrition improves, children remain in school longer, and non-urban economies become more stable. Empowering women farm-workers boosts food security, increases resilience to climate change, and promotes universal development. Pakistan’s progress depends on acknowledging the unpaid, underpaid, and often invisible labour of women who keep its agricultural system running.

Women may be the invisible hands in Pakistan’s fields, but their contributions are real, essential, and revolutionary. Eliminating gender discrimination and ensuring fair acknowledgement of women’s farm labour whether in cotton fields, okra plots, or broader agricultural work is crucial for building a more just and prosperous rural future.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025