Role of Women in Agriculture and Decision Making

Anita Saurabh[1]

 

Abstract

This study ‘‘Role of Women in Agriculture and Decision Making’’ in Milkipur Block, District Faizabad. Rural women play of vital role in farm and home system. Women contribute substantially in the physical aspect of farming. The finding of this study is majority of the decision related to farm was taken by male (78.77%) and only female participation decision only.

Keywords: Decision Making, Rural Women, Farming.

Introduction:

The role of Indian women as it has evolved, been experienced and understand over 400 years, has been full of diversity and contradictions. History has experienced from its glorious post to its revealing exhibitionism, from freedom to captivity and violent outbursts of energy to tranquil moments of place. According to Swaminathan, “some historians believe that it women who first domesticated coop plants and there by initiated the art and science of farming.”

Zar Quresh (2005) has mentioned in his paper ’’ Role of Rural Women’’ that role of women in agriculture sector is as important as men, therefore, women should educate themselves in agricultural. Mr.Qureshi highlights the importance of education to rural female. He proposed to educate women in floriculture and food preservation.

The scheme of hasted of working seeks to provide reasonably rented and safe accommodation to working women belonging to low-income groups who migrate to cities for employment. In some hostels, day content of children of these women are also attached. During 1992-1993, 23 additional hostels wee sanctioned to provide accommodation to 2269 working womenThe support training cum employment program me(STEP) for women was launched in 1987 to strengthen  and improve the skills for women below poverty line in traditional sector of Agriculture, small animal husbandry, handlooms, handicrafts, cottage and sericulture where women are employed on a large scale.Rural women on subjected to some constraints, which impose limitation on their potential to place their role effectively. This fails to incorporate in women consult in Decision Making represent major loss for society. Therefore, incorporating a women perspective in decision making should result in better decision, more adequately reflecting the needs  interest  of children’s and families.  Individual’s horizon and releases and superstition, making for aware her right and decision making capacities. Income generating activities which includes production of central components in ancillary unit, handlooms, handicrafts, agro-based activities and self employment centers of production units, only women organization working for handicraft women cooperative and institutions like soils. Nariniketans are eligible for grants, to the extent of 85% of the project cost the remaining 10% is to meet by the grantee institution.  

Objectives:

           1. To examine the socio- economic status of the respondent in rural area.                                                 

           2. To study the distribution of women labors according to their class and cast.

           3.  To study the role of women in decision making process of farm- home activities.

Methodology:

              The village namely Chirauli, Gokula, Dobhiyara of Milkipur Block of Faizabad District was selected purposively being selection of respondent from various village.10% of the total number of the families from the list of villagers were selected. As such 32, 46, and 24 families selected. The data was collected survey method along with personal interview, schedule and structured questionnaire. The villages consist of total 102 respondents.

Result and Discussion

Land area of Milkipur Block

Source: Statistical Magazine, Faizabad, 2011 department of economics and Statistics,   Government of U.P.

Area under different Crops in Milkipur Block, Faizabad (1999-2000).

 

Source: Statistical Magazine, Faizabad, 2011 department of economics and Statistics

Table No 1. – Socio-economic information of the respondents

Indicates of the total female respondents (100%) were in the age group 30 year to 50 maximum respondents (58.87%). The data also important finding that respondents (51.96%) belong to the housewife non-agricultural and (48.03%) was working in their agriculture field labors. The majority of respondents belonged to nuclear families (77.45%). Literacy level in the highest majority of illiterate (60.78%) and (13.73%) respondents only primary level educate.

Table no.2 Decision related to socio-religious rituals

 

To determine the participation of women in making of the decisions pertaining socio- religious rituals the question related to different activities were asked to ascertain whether they were taken by both Male and female on average, majority of decision related to socio- religious rituals were taken jointly (38.63%) decision making process.                                                                                                                           

Table No.3     Decision making related to farm

For ascertaining the role of women in making the decision the farm and activity, crop, varieties, seed, fertilizer, irrigation and plant protection. The role in decision making for farm work. The majority of the decision related to farm was taken by male (78.77%) and only female participation decision only (6.21%).

Table no. 4 Involvement of respondent in decision making-

                                                                                                                                                                      Involvement of decision making process it is evident from the above that in the majority of the cases, decision were taken by Male maximum percentage (55.15%) followed by the decision taken jointly (25.47%) and (19.04%) decision taken by only female.

Summary and Conclusion

The study reveals that the “Role of women in agriculture and decision making” in Milkipur Block, District Faizabad. Women continues to out of number men among world’s illiterate women’s share in the world’s working hours in 2/3^rd& yet, they earn only 1/10^th of the income women contribution to the economic growth of the society is quite substantial. The challenges lie in converting these concerns into reality, strategies for social and economic improvement of women and rural women in particular are of great concern.

References

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