The role of women farmers is often forgotten and even ignored, despite the fact that their role is very important for the sustainability of the agricultural sector and food sustainability. 

They have contributed significantly in agricultural, economic and social aspects. In the food sustainability sector, women farmers are responsible for the production of various types of food crops such as staple rice, corn, wheat, cassava and others.

Their role also helps maintain food stability by providing food for their families. Since the majority are rural farmers, half of the proceeds from their farming are for their own consumption to fulfill their family’s food needs.

In addition, women farmers often play an important role in maintaining and preserving diverse traditional crop varieties, which have local adaptations and are agro ecologically sustainable. 

In natural resource management, they are also involved in caring for and preserving the environment. It is not uncommon for those in the village to help promote sustainable agricultural practices such as organic farming concepts, natural fertilization and wise use of resources to keep the environment healthy.

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Although in this context, it is usually only male farmers who have access to agricultural knowledge. This is because women farmers are considered unable to handle the full range of field work. 

Their role is so important, but they never get access to learn about the agricultural sector as a whole. Even just to participate in decision-making or access to leadership in agriculture. This is also because farmer group organizations in the village are dominated by men, and it is rare for farmer groups to include women farmers.

There is also the idea that farming work done by women is seen as a side job regardless of being a married housewife. They are not just ‘helpers’ for their husbands’ work in the fields, but as the main actors in food security and the rural economy. Where their main job in the household is farming, which has a large enough land. 

Therefore, gender equality in the agricultural sector should be the goal. So that we can all honour the important contributions made by women farmers in maintaining food security and improving the welfare of rural communities.

If examined more closely using a functional structural theory approach, the family concept forms a hierarchy in the division of tasks that is considered to realize the balance of the system in the family. 

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Each family member has been labeled with their respective duties, responsibilities and roles. This division of roles is conditioned by the main task such as fathers are considered to play a role in earning a living, mothers have a role as household managers such as taking care of children, cooking, cleaning the house, fulfilling all the wishes of family members and having other tasks in socializing.

This expression about the balance of structural functional theory is considered to be inconsistent with the real abilities of women. In the real world, women are not weak creatures who only have limitations in household management. Their multitasking abilities can make women more resilient and able to carry out all forms of housework without gender restrictions.

The role of women as farmers is also still burdened by the social stigma of women’s ‘function’ in a family. The word function is more suitable because women are required to carry out tasks that have been inherent in them since they were born. 

There is no leniency in tolerating any form of workload shown for women. In the family system, women who are mostly played by mothers have busy activities starting from waking up in the morning until night comes. All the needs of the house from cleanliness, food needs to other social matters are a form of main work that women must carry out. 

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Of course, it is hard for a woman with a dual role to farm in managing all these activities. However, women are also known to have multitasking which can run many activities at the same time optimally.

The reality on the ground is that women’s dual duties as housewives and agricultural laborers are often underestimated and even ignored. This case has cornered many women until finally leading to the justification that women are considered weak in doing work that prioritizes heavy physical utilization in the field. 

In fact, this statement has naturally been answered that women have the ability to manage physically and logically in tandem. The complicated family system does not become a heavy burden for women in managing work including farming and housekeeping.  

It is important to change the perspective of society to pay more attention, respect and take into account the role of women farmers. Because by supporting their welfare, it will also contribute to food security and sustainable development.