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The present study examines the status of rural women in dairy farming in Amritsar district of Punjab. The study was based on the primary data collected for 2019-20 year from female dairy farmers selected through multistage purposive sampling technique. The data was analysed by using simple tabular analysis and other statistical tools. All the activities related to dairy farming was performed by female dairy farmers. Small size female dairy farmers performed all the activities related to dairy farming ranging from disposal of cow dung to care of sick and new born animals. Large size female dairy farmers hired labour for dairy activities due to higher income of the households and large number of animals. The role of rural women in decision making is paradoxical to their contribution in dairy farming. For various dairy related decisions like feeding of milch animals, management of milch animals, sale of milk and utilization of amount obtained from dairy farming rural women either only consulted or had no role in decision making. Independent decision making by rural women in dairy related activities was negligible in the study area. The major factors affecting the income of female dairy farmers was education, operated area and herd size. The main problems faced by female dairy farmers were negligible role of dairy farm women in decision making, non availability of adequate veterinary services, illiteracy of dairy farm women, lack of staff at government hospitals and lack of capital.  The study suggested that to increase the income of rural women from dairy rural women should be more educated and empowered through extension facilities by government. Due to stagnation in growth of agriculture, dairy can be used as an alternative for marginal and small farmers for increasing their income. Marginal and small female dairy farmers should be give more subsidies, loan and training for dairy business. Strict rules should be made regarding working of veterinary hospitals as the doctors were not available in the government veterinary hospitals in the study area.

Background: Seed is the starting point of agriculture and dictates ultimate productivity of other inputs. Quality seed of improved varieties is an important basic unit for enhancing productivity of any crop species. As the quality deteriorates during subsequent generations, the old must be replaced with fresh lots of quality seeds. The present study was an attempt to analyze the source, SRR and management of wheat seed in Amritsar district of Punjab. Methods: The current study was conducted on primary data collected from 120 farmers during the agricultural year 2019-20. The data was analyzed using simple tabular analysis and other suitable statistical techniques. Result: The study found that the most preferred source of seed was institutional sources from which 45.83 per cent of the seed was procured from these agencies. The second most preferred source was self-retained by the farmers as 43.70 per cent farmer’s preferred self-retained seeds. Only small farmers and medium farmers procured wheat seed from fellow farmers, relatives and friends. This source was preferred by small and medium farmers as seed is available free of cost and no immediate cash payment was charged by fellow farmers or relatives. Seed replacement rate was found to be 49.94 per cent for wheat crop in Amritsar district of Punjab. The study found that minimum attention was paid at post storage of wheat seed (2.50 per cent) whereas maximum attention was paid in the field (48.83 per cent) during wheat seed production. The main determinants of purity and quality of wheat seed were past experience of the farmer, repute of the institution, tag of certification agency and advice of known person. Seed replacement rate (SSR) for wheat was less for small farmers in the study area which can be increased by giving incentives to farmers for using certified seeds. These incentives can be in the form of higher price of produce to the small farmers. Maximum farmers used self-retained seed foe the next season and they paid minimum attention to the storage of seed which lead to deterioration in the quality of seed. Farmers should be educated to use scientific methods in the storage of seeds.

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