Divulging the magnitude of socio-economic empowerment of dairy women in Eastdistrict of Sikkim

Abstract

Farm women are responsible for sustainable food and livelihood security. A study was undertaken to measure the socio-economic empowerment of dairy farm women in East district of Sikkim with sampling size of 200 on the year 2021. An index was prepared for measuring the empowerment scores of farm women. The criteria for selection of farm women were based on possession of at least one milch cattle. The study revealed that,36.50 percent of the respondents possessed high empowerment scores, while 35.00 percent of the respondents possessed medium empowerment scores and only 28.50 percent possessed low empowerment score. There was a significant difference in the empowerment scores of socio-economic variables like, age, education, marital status, milk production per day (in lit), social status, farming experience in dairying, annual income through dairying and occupation. Young age category was having the highest empowerment scores with 81.48±1.16. Graduate and above category also possessed high empowerment scores with87.56±1.96. In the case of social status, Other Backward Caste had high empowerment score with 81.46±2.68. Respondents whose occupation was government service+ dairy farming possessed high empowerment scores with 89.10±2.37 while, medium annual income category had the highest empowerment scores with 76.80. Variables like, age, education, marital status, farming experience in dairying, family size, occupation had a significant association with the empowerment score. The study suggests suitable reform in extension service of the state which will mobilize the potential of dairy farm women to adopt sustainable dairy technology and create a means for additional income.