ROLE OF WOMEN IN AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT: AN ANALYTICAL STUDY IN SAMASTIPUR DISTRICT OF BIHAR
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Date
2021
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
DRPCAU, PUSA
Abstract
Agriculture is the backbone of Indian economy as roughly 70 -75 % of its
population depends directly or indirectly on agriculture. Women play key role in
agricultural production, processing and natural resource management. Rural women
perform numerous labour intensive jobs such as weeding, hoeing, grass cutting,
irrigation, plant protection, harvesting, keeping of livestock and its other associated
activities like milking, milk processing, etc. Economic Survey 2017-18 says that with
growing rural to urban migration by men, there is ‘feminization’ of agriculture sector,
with increasing number of women in multiple roles as cultivators, entrepreneurs, and
labourers. Based on facts and evidences, it can be summarized that in future woman
will be represent in both form as a housewife and as a woman, but also farmers, now
we have a wealth of pragmatic evidence demonstrating that women actively involve
in agriculture development in all regions, crop zones, facing numourous disadvantage
such as a lack of access to education and public life.They have shown a response to
change and developments. Regional disparties in women’s participation are. Ofcourse
due to a number of factors, concluding their important positions in the manufacturing
process, cultural values and customs, caste restriction, the introduction of labourdisplacing
innovations, and shifts in production relations, to name a few. These are
not static and must be regarded as part of a continuous process of transition.
Objective of the study
1. To study the socio- economical, psychological attributes of farm women and
their role in decision making in the field of agriculture in research area.
2. To examine the women’s participation in various agricultural activities in the
locale area.
3. To find out the changing scenario of participation of men and women in
agriculture work.
4. To identify the constraints of farm women in performing the agricultural work
in research area.
Methodology
The current investigation was conducted in Bihar. Out of 38 district of
Sanastipur district was choose purposively. Out of 20 blocks in Samastipur Pusa
block and Kalyanpur block were selected purposively. In Pusa block Harpur and
Bhuskaul villages were selected and in Kalyanpur block Ladaura and Tara villages
were selected. The last step of the sampling process involved selecting respondents
from each of the four villages. Within the selected villages, 30 respondents each were
selected randomly for the study. So the total number of respondent were 120. Welldeveloped
scheduled was made for the collection of data from the respondents.
Secondary data was taken from published and unpublished records, books, journals,
government reports and publications. The collected data were analyzed using mean,
frequency and percentage method, binomial logit model and correlation coefficient.
Major findings of the study
From the present study it was found that 70% farm women were marginal land
holders (<1hac) and 75.83% farm women annual income was more than 109586
rupees per year. And 86.66% farm women possesed only 0 to 4 agricultural assets.
81.66% farm women were economic motivated. From this study it was found that,
women involvement in various farm related activities effect the decision making
behaviour of farm women, it was positively significant (0.000) For this it can be
concluded that if 1 unit of participation of farm women will increase than decision
making will increase 20.1%. Land holding and extension participation are positively
associated with women’s participation in various agricultural activites at 1 percent
level of significant. Annual income and agriculture assets possesion are positively
associated with women’s participation in various agricultural activites at 5 percent
level of significant. However educational year was not found to be correlated with
women’s participation in agricultural activities. Three-quarters of Bihari's women are
in farming occupations. The proportion of women employed in agriculture in the state
was estimated at 19.32%. A total of 19.48% of all agricultural workers were female,
in rural areas, while 14.1% were female in urban areas. Harvesting of crops was the
most common occupation of women (14,56%) subsequently by planting (11,36%).
from the present study it was found that the main constraints percieved by farm while
performing the agricultural work was economic motivation with mean value 4.17
followed by risk taking ability with mean value 3.42 and so on.