ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses primary and secondary data to understand the socioeconomic profile of women farmer households. On the basis of primary data, it examines demographic characteristics, production and other asset bases and housing and living conditions of sample families. Agriculture is the main occupation for the majority; 90 per cent have reported owning livestock and the sample households are involved in high value cash crop production of vegetables. Yet, the farm outputs are not sufficient for survival. Families have to resort to wage labour to survive. Almost half the households cannot even afford electricity connection/gas connection. Survey findings also establish the secondary position of women. Assets are owned by males. Only a little over six per cent of women reported land ownership. The extremely low levels of education, and 85 per cent of marriages at less than the legal age reveal the social backwardness of the sample population.
