Involvement Of Women In Agriculture Research Articles

Sustainability Assessment of Wetland Rice Farming in Sri Lanka: A Case Study in Kaduwela Wetland Ecosystem

Achieving sustainability in farming systems which are in close connection with natural ecosystems is a challenging task for farmers, researchers and policy makers. There is long history for use of floodplains for agriculture, due to their high fertility created by regular flooding events. Kaduwela wetland ecosystem is such floodplain which is situated in Colombo district. Paddy is the most prominent cultivation in this area and intensive farming practices hence has led to continuous reduction of sustainability and natural biodiversity of this wetland ecosystem. The objective of the study is therefore to calculate a total sustainability index (TSI) for the paddy farmers with social, economic and environmental components. A household survey using a pre-tested questionnaire was conducted among randomly selected 100 paddy farmers from Dedigamuwa Grama Niladhari Division of Kaduwela Divisional Secretariat Division. Key informant interviews were also conducted to collect information. Thirteen different indicators were developed to analyse economic, social and environmental sustainability. These data were used to derive an Economic Efficiency Index (EEI), Social Security Index (SSI) and an Environmental Security Index (ESI). Total Sustainability Index (TSI) was calculated finally combining all indices. According to the results only 3% (TSI>0.5) of paddy farmers were totally sustainable within the system. Overall results emphasized that only 13%, 8% and 4% of paddy farmers respectively were economically, socially and environmentally sustainable. Further, as a result of continuous reduction of paddy productivity and higher labour cost, 87% of paddy farmers were economically vulnerable while overuse of fertilizers and agrochemicals has lead to reduction of environmental sustainability of the system. Lack of proper extension services and poor women involvement in agriculture has lead 92% of paddy farmers towards the social vulnerability. The study concludes that lack of adequate knowledge on sustainable farming systems and unfamiliarity with resource conserving practices negatively related to less adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. Finally the study suggest that government support and intervention in agricultural advisory services can serve as an engine to promote sustainability in paddy production while conserving the natural characteristics of this wetland ecosystem. Keywords: Paddy farming, Sustainability index, Wetland ecosystem

Feminism in Indian Agriculture

Feminism in Indian agriculture signifies the involvement of women in agriculture and allied activities. Agriculture is one of the strong hold of Indian Economy with growth rate of 3.4 per cent and is accounted for 17.32 per cent to the total GDP during 2018-19. During 2011-12, Agriculture employed more than 50 per cent of the Indian work force. It was estimated that 45.3 per cent of agricultural labour force consist of women but a large number of women remained invisible workers. Therefore, women constitute an important part of our labour force in agriculture and perform multidimensional roles. In rural India, the percentage of women who depend on agriculture for their livelihood is as high as 84 per cent (Census, 2011). Women make up about 30 per cent of cultivators and about 43 per cent percent of agricultural laborers. As small farmers face the increasing competition with larger farm operations an increasing number of men migrate to city centers for higher wages and employment. Women are in turn left to support the family structure and support small farm lifestyle. Since, there has been concern expressed regarding the gap between women’s actual economic participation and public perception, several researchers have attempted to overcome this invisibility through gendered empirical research studies for using on gender analysis and gender roles. This topic is highlighting the female participation and wages in agriculture across various Indian states. The secondary data collected for the research is used to study the growth rate of the female agricultural worker for several years. Various challenges are still persistent so special policy as well as programs should be organized to mitigate them. Agricultural education be made gender sensitive and research, development, extension and services be engendered to give due recognition to the multiple role played by women agriculturists.

Gender differences in agricultural technology adoption in developing countries: a systematic review

The color adoption of agricultural technologies varies across societies, persons and gender. Studies have shown that women have lower levels and slower rates of adoption of various agricultural technologies than men. In view of these, a systematic review was conducted to investigate the lines of arguments and factors influencing gender differences in technology adoption. The search for literature was conducted through AGORA, Google Scholar, Freefullpdf, Jstor, Science Domain, and Elsevier online databases. Also data were sourced from Awolowo University (Africana Section), Nigeria- Canada Project (NiCanVeg) and MicroVeg project. The findings from most studies showed consensus of male dominance in agricultural technology adoption despite the high proportion of women involvement in agriculture. The factors influencing gender differences in technology adoption included; access to resources (land, labor, capital, non-farm income, inputs and extension services), educational level, distance to market, decision making power, participation in associations, norms and beliefs among others. It was concluded that gender equality in agricultural technology adoption are not yet achieved because women are still constrained by several factors in employing their full potentials in agricultural production. There is, therefore, need for deliberate planning to mainstream gender into agricultural innovations to guarantee equality in its adoption between men and women in developing countries.

Comparative analysis of women’s contribution to food crop production in Kogi state, Nigeria

Women in Nigeria form a significant part of the population and are practically involved in agricultural activities. Based on the involvement of women in agriculture and in the rural economies of Nigeria, this study evaluates the contribution of women to food crop production. This is to establish knowledge about what farm inputs these women use in agriculture and how they combine these resources available to them in food production process as regards their efficiency. Four-staged sampling was conducted to survey a sample of 120 farmers (men and women) with the aid of an interview schedule. The data collected were for the 2009/2010 cropping season and analyzed with descriptive tools and stochastic production frontier. The result established that a high level of technical inefficiency exists among the sampled farmers. Age, household size and sex were found to be significant (p < 0.05) determinants of technical inefficiency that exists between the sampled farmers. To achieve efficiency in production among women farmers, it was recommended that inputs required, especially land, modern farm implement, accessible capital and extension services should be made available. The women should also be taught the better use of farm inputs to achieve efficiency in food crop production. Keywords : Food Production, Women, Agriculture, Kogi State, Efficiency

Feminization of Agriculture: Reflections from the Female Participation in Training Programmes on Agriculture and Allied Activities

Women are actively involved in agriculture and contribute significantly in agriculture and allied activities. Despite their active involvement in all aspects of agriculture like crop selection, land preparation, seed selection, cold storage handling, marketing and processing, their work is unorganized, unvalued and unrewarded. Active involvement of women in agriculture clearly indicates the feminization of agriculture referring to increasing presence or visibility in agriculture labour force, whether as agricultural worker, independent producers or unremunerated family workers. Is this trend of visibility of women in agriculture equally visible when it comes to capacity building of farmers? Is women participation in training programmes proportionate to their participation in agriculture and allied activities? The present paper was an attempt to find an answer to this by looking at the various vocational trainings conducted in the field of agriculture and allied activities from gender lens. The trainings conducted in the field of poultry, dairy, bee-keeping, mushroom cultivation and agricultural engineering during the last five years (2010–2014) in Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar were analyzed. The study indicated that although the participation of females in training programmes related to agriculture and allied activities has increased especially in dairy and mushroom cultivation but it was not in proportion and according to the rate of participation of females in agriculture or their representation in the population.

Assessing the Role of Farm Women in Agriculture: A Case Study of Jammu District of J&K State

In India, the typical work of the female agricultural labourer or cultivator is limited to less skilled jobs, such as sowing, transplanting, weeding and harvesting, that often fit well within the framework of domestic life and child-rearing. The nature and extent of women's involvement in agriculture, no doubt, varies greatly from region to region. A study has been conducted in R.S. Pura block of Jammu district with an aim to know the role and extent of women involvement in decision making in agriculture and constraints they faced while performing the agriculture activities. A sample of 50 women farmers selected from the two villages namely Raipur and Badyalbrahmna of R.S Pura and was interviewed. The results of the study revealed that most of the respondents (64%) get up early in the morning to perform the dual responsibility of domestic work and outside in the fields. About 56% of the respondents work for 5–7 hours and more in the farm activities and stated that agriculture is their primary occupation. An average of 89% of women takes part in almost every agriculture activities from seed cleaning to harvesting and post harvesting of produce. Regarding decision, only 14% provide input in almost every productive decision related to farms. About 90% of women don't have autonomy in any productive decisions, 96% of the respondents don't own land or any other assets. Majority (88%) of respondents do not purchase or sale of any other assets. Majority (84%) of the respondents felt that they find difficulty in carrying out farm operations. About (75%) women told that their main problem is related to health like headache, backache, fatigue and restlessness. 74% responded that their social life is disturbed due to heavy work both in farms and domestic work and they are not able to go often to their friends and relatives. About 64% of the women not enjoying agriculture work and find it very hectic and need some type of women friendly equipments.

Crop Diversification in Odisha: An analysis of area dynamics with gender perspective

Crop diversification is considered as a pathway for holistic agricultural development. Odisha with a rural sex ra- tio of 989 bears a tradition of dynamic involvement of women in agriculture across the operations. The present pa- per examines the intricacies of crop diversification in Odisha in women perspective. The decadal data analysis (201019) indicated sluggishness and inconsistency in crop diversification in the state. A regional divide in spread of crop diversification as well as women cultivators was observed in southern districts vis--vis coastal districts of Odisha. Significant correlation was observed among female cultivators, female agricultural work participation rate, mechanization, and livestock with crop diversification. Based on the panel data analysis, the study concluded that in Odisha; districts with higher female cultivators and maximum Agricultural work participation rate contributed more to crop diversification.