Issues and Challenges of Women in Agribusiness: A Study with Special Reference to Betel leaf Sellers

Abstract

Betel leaf is referred to as the green gold of India. It is scientifically known as piper betel and has tremendous potential to prove itself as ‘Green Medicine’. From the past betel leaves are woven into our culture both for consumption and rituals. The betel leaf is grown and sold all over India and particularly in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, Orissa, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. This is one of the prominent cash crops traded in agribusiness. In Mangalore too this crop is cultivated and traded. The areas where in it is cultivated are Bondel, Neermarga, Bantwal, Vogga, Moodbidri, Belthangadi, Uppinagadi etc. This crop is traded prominently near the central market and State bank market in Mangalore city. The paper focuses on the women betel leaf sellers of Mangalore city and discusses the issues and challenges these women face.
Traditionally the trading of betel leaves were done by the Roman Catholic women and to date they are into this business. It is nice to note that the consumption of betel leaves is mostly done by Muslims, traditionally is of use to the Hindus and is traded by Catholics. Thus the leaf acts as a binding agent of religions too. But in recent times the number of catholic ladies in this trade has deteriorated and many men of all religions have taken up this trade along with the other products that they trade. As of today in the Mangalore city there are only 6 catholic ladies who are in this trade. They are located in the central market (one full time and 3 part time basis) and two ladies working full time are located in the State bank market. They have a place of their own and are the last generations to be in this agribusiness field. The paper tries to highlight the problems faced by these ladies when they are dealing with the green gold of India.