Close interaction and responsibility help them to gain a deeper understanding of the growing environment, particularly soil and its interaction with rainfall. Women have greater knowledge than men about soil texture, fertility status and suitability for millet cultivation, though men do the ploughing. A quote from one of the Focus Group Discussions (FGD) with men and women farmers “Often men plough but it is women who touch, feel and work in the soil” further supports this fact. Women’s intimate relationship with the soil is reflected through their statements made in FGDs. Local category pallakadu (black clay soil) retains moisture for seven to ten days after the first rain, but the sudumannkadu (red gravelly soil) absolutely lacks any moisture holding capacity after the first rain.