question_answer 12)

Explain the role of non-farm employment in promoting rural diversification.

Answer:

Agriculture sector in India is already overcrowded and suffering from the problem of disguised unemployment. A major proportion of the increasing labour force needs to find alternate employment opportunities in other non-farm sectors. The dynamic sub-sectors in non-farm sector include agro-processing industries, food processing industries, leather industry, tourism, etc. There are other sectors which have the potential but lack infrastructure and other support. These include traditional home-based industries like pottery, crafts, handlooms etc. Majority of rural women find employment in agriculture while men generally took for non-farm employment. Now-a days women have also begun to work in non-farm Jobs. e.g., in Tamil Nadu, many Farm Women's Groups are creating savings in their group through a micro-credit system and promoting small-scale household activities like mushroom cultivation, soap manufacture.