Understanding the Roles and Influence of the Farmers' Wives in Farming Activities, Farming Practices, and Credit Availment

Abstract

This study is descriptive research, which looks into the role of women in farming practices and involvement in decisions about choice of farming practice, credit availment, and allocation of farming income. This was conducted in two TSPI Branches in Pangasinan, namely Mangatarem and Bugallon. A one-page survey questionnaire was used as the data gathering instrument. The wives do not play major roles in most farming activities. Their involvement becomes more apparent at the end of the production process when the product is about to be translated into cash, i.e. in storage and selling. This role is well-acknowledged by the husbands who recognize the important involvement of the wives at this stage, considering that they are the keeper of the income from farming and more aware of the financial needs of the households. The wives are not just waiting until their husbands give the income from farming but started to come in the process of handling the produce. In terms of decision-making, the wives’ influence is also more related to decisions related to money matters. In most cases, the husband and wife are jointly making the decisions on credit availment for production capital and on where to allocate the farm income. Interestingly, some of them are involved in technical aspects of farming such as the choice of seeds and fertilizer.