"Growing chile has always been a woman's job. More than 70% of agricultural activities in this region have always been carried out by women farmers. Men prefer to take on the agricultural jobs that involve finances, leaving the menial, labor-intensive jobs to the women."
"You need to crouch over the chile plant, plucking each pod by hand, and then dry and sort it. Not many men step up to do it under these conditions."
In Tamil Nadu, women farmers like Pandiamma endure hard labor and sleepless nights during chile harvesting season. They grow a specific variety of red chile, with over 70% of agricultural activities in the region performed by women. Men typically avoid the physically demanding tasks associated with chile farming, opting instead for roles involving finances. The seasonal nature of the work further limits men's participation, as many women find themselves out of work after six months of harvesting.
Read at www.npr.org
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