RURAL WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN AGRICULTURAL AND NON- AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES: A CASE STUDY OF MANSHIET DAHSHOUR VILLAGE, EL – BADRASHEN DISTRICT, GIZA GOVERNORATE, EGYPT.

Abstract

Egyptian rural women play critical, diverse roles in agriculturaland non- agricultural activities in the rural economy as unpaid familyworkers, own- account farmers, and plantations.The multiple role of women in agriculture, allied occupationsand household activities are generally, underestimated and undervalued.By and large, they have remained as invisible hands .The present study was undertaken to determine the nature andextent of participation of rural women in various agricultural and nonagricultural activities, and their contribution in generating householdincome.A sample size of 100 farm households of Manshiet Dahshourvillage were selected randomly, and the housewives of the households,who worked outside along with their household work, were therespondents of this study. Data were collected through structuredinterview questionnaire during September an October 2016. Theobtained data were analyzed by using tabular and statistical techniques.The findings showed that most of the respondents constituteeconomically active age group who were mostly illiterate.Contribution of women to total family income in low, mediumand high income household categories were 34.5 25.0 and 13.9 per centrespectively. It was evident that, female participation of low and mediumincome households is markedly higher in non- agricultural activities thanthe high income households. Women were involved in variousagricultural and non- agricultural activities and largely took part in rearing poultry, harvesting croups , post – harvest operations,milking and milk processing, petty trading , labor selling and sewing (dress marketing).The values of correlation coefficient indicated that onlyhousehold size is positively and significantly associated with womenrespondent participation in agricultural and non- agricultural activities.