Gender Dimension And Disparity In Vegetable Picking

Abstract

Gender involvement in agriculture is becoming more asymmetrical in rural areas due to differences in wages of respective labour resultantly affecting health, wealth and decision making power of women engaged in agriculture. Study, therefore, was planned to investigate status of women engaged in vegetable picking and see constraints faced by them. Descriptive statistics are used to analyze primary data collected during year 2013. Results reveal that average monthly household income and expenditure were Rs. 10770 and Rs. 9291. Average daily earnings of males and females from vegetable picking were Rs. 333 and Rs.156 respectively which clearly shows disparity regarding wage rates. Female respondents were earning income also from other off-season sources in order to support family budget. Majority of female respondents (86%) were aware about harmful health effects of pesticides’ sprays on vegetables but they were still not using appropriate safety measures. They complained about different diseases while working in vegetable fields. It is suggested that training in other more remunerative non-farm/ off-season activities should be provided to females in order to improve wages on competitive basis. The pickers should be educated also about the importance of using safety precautions while working in vegetables fields.