Constraints faced by hilly farm women in Uttarakhand

Abstract

Women of Uttarakhand are the backbone of the development of the state. Despite of growth and development throughout the entire state, women in hill areas are suffering from various types of problems. Past researches revealed that hill farm women are suffering from various problems like declining soil, water and other natural resources, decreasing size of farm holding, input use inefficiency, costly and scarce agriculture labour, poor access to credit and investments, slow diffusion of relevant technologies, competiveness of quality and prices in export and domestic markets etc. Present investigations were conducted in three villages viz Bhaluti, Kausani and Sariyatal of Nainital district in Uttarakhand. Data were collected through interview schedule, group discussions etc. Total 50 respondents were selected for the study. Results revealed that majority of the respondents belonged to middle age group category and general caste. Majority of them were educated up to high school and had nuclear families. Majority took farm-related information from input dealers, key informants/elderly persons, scientists of beekeeping centre, progressive farmers, scientists of KVKs and Aaganwadi workers. Majority of women were facing constraints like lack of financial assistance, lack of technical knowhow, lack of marketing skills, lack of entrepreneurial skills, lack of self-confidence, mobility constraints, illiteracy or low level of education.