"Apart from bearing the main burden of agricultural tasks, the entire responsibility of fetching water, fuel collection, cooking, looking after children, washing clothes and tending to cattle is largely done by women," said the study, conducted by Meenakshi (one name) and Ranvir Singh of the agro-economic research centre of Himachal Pradesh University.

"Despite such a huge contribution, women are not being consulted in farm decisions. We found only 15 percent are consulted in matters related to home expenditure, savings, loans and investment," the study added.

"Around 90 percent of the women of the state are engaged in agriculture. And despite being weaker physically, they put in almost double the time than men," Singh told IANS.

"It was found that women in the mid-hills, where off-season vegetables and fruits are grown, are the most burdened, putting in almost 10 hours of work," he added.

According to the study, women were found to be less burdened in the affluent horticulture belt where farm labour is hired from outside the state.

Otherwise they carried out all farm activities like sowing, grass cutting, harvesting and threshing.

Pointing put that women have hardly any knowledge of handling modern farm equipment, the study said they should be encouraged to attend training camps as this will go a long way in enhancing their status in society and at home.

--Indo-Asian News Service