Abstract

The rural economy in India is undergoing significant change, largely driven by agritech advancements encompassing digital platforms, artificial intelligence (AI), and technology-driven agricultural methods. Although agritech is frequently presented as a solution to agrarian challenges, climate-related risks, and decreasing farm revenues, women’s involvement in this developing sector is both restricted and inconsistent. Despite their crucial roles in agricultural production, livestock management, and related rural endeavours, women persistently encounter systemic obstacles. These include limited land ownership, unequal access to digital technologies, insufficient skills training, restricted credit access, and exclusion from institutional decision-making. This study investigates the role of women in agritech and examines how their participation can create lasting opportunities in the rural economy. Using a gender-aware political economy and a capability-based analysis, the research draws on existing data from Indian government reports, international development organizations, and academic publications. The analysis shows that women’s involvement in agritech leads to increased agricultural productivity, a wider range of livelihoods, entrepreneurial growth, and improved socio-economic outcomes for households and communities. Concurrently, enduring obstacles, including the digital gender divide, unpaid caregiving duties, algorithmic bias within AI systems, and deficiencies in policy execution, persistently impede women’s full engagement. This article posits that women’s integration into agritech transcends mere gender equity; it constitutes a strategic necessity for fostering inclusive and robust rural economic progress. The concluding section underscores the imperative for gender-sensitive agritech policies, focused skill development programs, institutional backing, and inclusive technology governance to guarantee that technological advancements in agriculture facilitate equitable rural transformation.

Keywords: Women in Agriculture, Agritech, Rural Economy, Gender and Technology, Artificial Intelligence