In the first episode of our Inclusive Food Systems podcast series, our guest is Dr Shreya Sinha and we explore the role of women in agriculture and agrarian economy. 

In the episode, we discuss the feminisation of agriculture in India, as well as the many vulnerabilities of female farmers and farm workers. Shreya offers key insights into the difficulties that women face in accessing male-dominated markets, the undermining of their labour as ‘soft labour’ and the caste and gender nexus that further oppresses female farm workers. We end by listening to Shreya’s vision for the future of women in agriculture, which is hopeful but also reminds us of the urgent changes required in our agrarian systems and the long journey ahead. 

About the Guest:

Shreya is a lecturer in Business and Society at Queen Mary University of London. Her research is focused on the political economy of agrarian change and development, with a regional focus on India. Previously, Shreya was involved with the TIGR2ESS project (Transforming India's Green Revolution by Research and Empowerment for Sustainable food Supplies) at the University of Cambridge. 

*Please note that at the time of recording this podcast, Dr Sinha was Lecturer at the University of Reading's School of Agriculture, Policy and Development.