Although women are a crucial element in national rural development, their role continues to be neglected in plans and programs for change--especially in Third World countries. In addition to the burden faced by rural people generally in developing countries, women carry a double burden because of their low social status, high illiteracy rate, lack of control in child bearing, and lack of access to opportunities and power. Although these women are presently making massive contributions in farming, in home related industries, and in other types of productive work that are fundamental to the rural economy, they are seldom counted in the statistics of economic development. The extensive role of women in productive work has serious implications for rural development. The failure to involve women has undermined many rural development projects in the past. Men discussing post-harvest grain losses with extension agents, for example, are talking about the experiences of their women who store the grain. Those responsible for rural development projects must now begin to design new approaches, departing from the traditional home economics and nutrition programs in favor of training women to become cash earners, business handlers, nutrition planners, and farm and irrigation managers. (JHZ)