Role of women in organic farming and their family quality index in the selected agro-climatic zones of Northern Karnataka
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UASD
Abstract
The present study was conducted during the year 2012-13 to delineate the areas of
participation of farm women in organic and conventional farming and to assess their Family
Quality Index (FQI). A multistage sampling procedure with purposive sampling technique
was adopted to select the sample. Fifty each organic and conventional farm women from
three villages namely Hirehandigol, Ammangi and Kamadhenu were selected from Northern
Dry Zone -3, Northern Transitional Zone-8 and Northern Hilly Zone-9 respectively. Thus the
total sample of the study was 300. The results revealed that the work burden of the organic
farm women in terms of man days with respect to preparatory tillage, seed activities, sowing
activities, after care operations and threshing and processing activities was comparatively
more than conventional farm women and it was found to be statistically significant also. The
shift to organic production had positive impact on the socio economic status of the farming in
all the agro-climatic zones. The scores of variable components of FQI revealed that the
organic farming families were slightly better in all the aspects viz., socio economic status,
expenditure pattern, savings and investment, family health status, participation level and
decision making. Hence, the FQI of organic farming families was significantly superior
when compared to conventional farming families in all the three zones. Lack of
encouragement, non availability of certified seeds, less rains, time consuming certification
procedure, lack of proper storage facilities and lack of consumer awareness regarding organic
markets were the major problems of organic farm women. Based on the felt needs of the
organic farm women, training programmes on rain water harvesting, integrated farming
system and bio fertilizers and bio pesticides utilization, marketing strategies and linkages,
value addition to organic produces and scientific and organic methods of preservation of
organic produces were suggested.