Women Feed the World was the theme for the World Food Day, 1998 of the Food and Agriculture Organisation. The theme was selected to pay tribute to women for their significant role in agriculture, fisheries and forestry, and their enormous contribution to household and national food security. Dovetailing the FAO theme with the situation in India, a national level discussion on Women and Food Security Role of Panchayats was organised. The book is a compilation of expert presentations at that Consultation. Women and Food Security: Role of Panchayats focuses on the key role of rural women in ensuring household food security, specially in times of crisis. Women's involvement in harvesting, processing and marketing of food products; and their knowledge of local biodiversity and its relevance to small plots has been covered. Panchayats have significant role in development of rural India. As one-third of the elected members are women they have Constitutional responsibility to enact the provision of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act and empower rural women to attain Food Security in the households. This book will be useful to the policy-makers and those who are working in gender issues and panchayats.
