Women Farmers: Struggling to light up the hearth

India’s economy depends significantly on agriculture, yet the contributions of women farmers are often overlooked. Vicky Roy’s lens refocuses attention on these women, unveiling a stark reality. Their plight symbolises the harsh reality of women farmers who have no choice but to endure challenging lives.

Here the woman in the picture is Ruma Adivasi, age 27 from Janwaar Village, Madhya Pradesh.

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The increasing suicides among their male counterparts add to the anguish of women farmers, leaving behind bereaved wives and children. Widowed women farmers bear an especially harsh burden, grappling with debt, childcare, and survival. Here the woman in the picture is Sitha Adivasi, age 28 with his son Arvind Adivasi, age 4 from Janwaar Village, Madhya Pradesh.

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No matter how idyllic a village landscape looks, there are grave stories hidden in many of India’s rural hinterlands,” asserted Vicky.  He underscores the significance of women’s kitchens, revealing the condition of their homes and lives in this photo essay. Here the woman in the picture is Kela Devi, age 27 from Dhana Shamsabad, Uttar Pradesh.

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According to a recent report on agricultural statistics released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, female farmers are paid 22 per cent less than their male counterparts furthering the gap between their labour. Here the women in the picture is Bhagwati Guwala, age 55, Chanda Mall, age 60 from Bolay Bari, Assam.

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Light, a crucial photography element, takes on added symbolism. Vicky noted, “Women toil under the golden kitchen light, mirroring their financial and societal circumstances.”Here the woman in the picture is Sibakala Guwala, age 50 from Bokuloni Chariali, Assam.

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“One can know the condition of their home and life by merely looking at the kitchen of women that was my main highlight in this photo essay as women struggle to light up the hearth,” said Vicky. Here the woman in the picture is Rajkali Adiwasi, age 22 from Janwaar  Village, Madhya Pradesh.

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According to Vicky, photography plays an important role in day-to-day life. Photos can be manipulative or impactful to human psychology. “A single photo can explain various dimensions of the situation,” he said. Here the woman in the picture is Rati Adiwasi, age 17 from Janwaar  Village, Madhya Pradesh.

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Vicky’s expertise lies in ‘impact photography,’ harnessing images to raise funds, spotlight issues, and enact positive change in people’s lives. Here the woman in the picture is Ramrati, age 70 from Janwaar  Village, Madhya Pradesh.

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Being a documentary photographer, Vicky spends more than 3 years on a specific topic or subject after which the project is compiled and published sometimes as a book. Looking at these stories, people come forward to help or support. Here the woman in the picture is Suman Adivasi, age 16 from Janwaar Village, Madhya Pradesh.

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Vicky prioritises storytelling over aesthetics, valuing a photo’s ability to convey profound narratives, rendering words unnecessary. Here the woman in the picture is Jalsa Bai, age 43 from Janwaar  Village, Madhya Pradesh.

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Over four years (2015-2019), Vicky dedicated himself to this photo essay, aiming to expose the disparity between government rhetoric on rural farmers’ growth and the harsh reality faced by small and medium-scale farmers. Here the woman in the picture is Sonia Munda, age 18 from Khowang, Assam.

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“Many farmers struggle to secure sustenance, an ordeal that intensifies for women who manage households and farms. Women farmers captured in their kitchens symbolise the heartrending plight of a community,” Vicky stated. Here the woman in the picture is Savita Bhoi, age 29 from Patropara Village, Puri, Odisha. 

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