Empowerment of Sub-marginal Women Farmers Through Livelihood Enterprises: A Critical Analysis in Muzaffarpur District
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Date
2016
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Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur)
Abstract
India is home to the fourth largest agricultural sector in the world while its contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) is comparatively low, but it provides employment to 56 percent of workforce and reduces poverty and food security and determines inclusive growth of the country. The state like Bihar is predominantly agrarian and agriculture engages nearly three-fourths of Bihar’s population. The agricultural industry provides employment to about 81% of the total workforce and generates nearly 42% of the State Domestic Product. Given the current situation of the labour market various avenues to increase income and empowerment opportunities for women need to be explored and strengthened. Support to diversification of activities, through improved skill development, access to credit, market linkages, etc. are only but a few alternatives.
For empowering farm women there is a need for easy access of agricultural technology for addressing the issues of gender concerns in farming as well as their socio- economic empowerment and livelihood security. The present study has been planned to undertake following specific objectives:
• To assess the socio- economic and personal characteristics of sub- marginal women farmers.
• To study the various agricultural production systems adopted by sub- marginal women farmers for their livelihood.
• To explore the process and impact of farm interventions in terms of livelihood promotion among sub- marginal women farmers.
• To examine the constraints perceived by sub –marginal women farmers and to suggest strategies for livelihood security
Sakra block of Muzaffarpur district has been purposively selected as the study attempts to explore socio-economic empowerment of sub- marginal women farmers (those cultivating less than 1acre/20 Kattha) through the interventions made by local NGO, Creative Welfare Society (CWS) of Rajapur, Sakra block, Muzaffarpur district through collaboration with several developmental agencies.
In Sakra block, three panchayats (Dubaha, Dihuli, Misraulia) and six villages (Dubaha, Rajapur, Dihuli, Naropatti, Misraulia, Maniyari) were selected. A total of 80 respondents, out of which experimental group of 40 sub-marginal women farmers was purposively selected. Another control group of 40 sub-marginal women farmers was randomly selected from the same villages. Eight most relevant independent variables i.e., Age; Caste, Education, Land holding, Annual income, Social participation and interventions methods were identified for the study. Dependent variables were socio-economic empowerment and livelihood security. All the variables were measured under the set rules and procedures, with scale and schedules developed for the study. An interview schedule was prepared, pilot study were conducted and used in personal interviews with respondents. Appropriate statistical tests were used using SPSS software package.
The study revealed that majority of experimental and control group women farmers were found to be from low socio economic strata with low education and income, belonged to other backward castes and schedule caste. The sub-marginal farm women were with minimal assets and medium family size. The results highlighted the importance and relevance of livelihood security and empowerment development programmes through agriculture and allied interventions for betterment of the selected respondents residing in these villages. The respondents were using both the hybrids and traditional seeds but their extent of utilization depended upon the availability and cost. Similarly they preferred to store seeds at home due to unavailability of storage facilities. In case of investment, major expenditure was on irrigation, fertilizers but pesticides got less attention. The present study also revealed that the timely availability of critical inputs at cheaper prices was crucial and meeting these constraints would certainly help to excel their agricultural productivity and bring improvement in their livelihoods. Thus the dream for all round development can be only fulfilled if we could ensure active involvement, participation and technological empowerment of women in agriculture through better support from government schemes.
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