Participation In Agricultural Activities Research Articles

Women Peasants in India: Farmers or ‘Farmers’ Wives’?

Even though there is an increasing trend towards the ‘feminisation of agriculture’, especially among the small and resource-poor farm households due to the increasing long-term migration of men, women’s work on the family farm is invisibilised to a very large extent in most parts of the country. One of the reasons for the absence of gender issues in the literature on agriculture is that women are not even regarded as farmers due to the absence of property rights for them. This paper is based on fieldwork conducted in villages of Punjab, Rajasthan and Telangana. It brings to light lesser-known facts about women’s ownership of land and their changing status in rural India. Based on data collected through primary research from 100 households in each of the three states, this paper concentrates on the less researched aspects of women in agriculture in India. The study focuses on women’s role as farmers, their control over land, their participation in agricultural activities on family farms, and decision-making, including decisions relating to the family. The analysis of data shows that there are regional differences in these aspects, which are mainly due to the differences in cultural factors relating to women’s status in society.

Atitude e componentes de capacitação de jovens rurais para práticas agrícolas sustentáveis: estudo de caso da província de Punjab, Paquistão

ABSTRACT: Inclusion of rural youth is of great importance to facilitate nutritional security and make the food chain more sustainable. A positive attitude is necessary for active participation in agricultural activities. This case study was an attempt to check the attitude of rural youth regarding sustainable farming and its contributing factors. The study was carried out in the Punjab province of Pakistan and a transverse research design was used for this quantitative study. An interview schedule was used for getting the face-to-face response of rural youth. To make the unknown population of rural youth in Punjab, the Fisher formula was used and a sample of 413 was selected from purposely selected three districts of Punjab. After recording data, Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze the data. Descriptive Statistics was used to explain the response of rural youth for the decision on the base of data. Only 53 young farmers said that they have never been part of the formal education system and maximum number of farmers was close to 24 years of age or more than that. Rural youth of Punjab is lacking in non-formal education for acquiring or maintaining their skills & interests. Unemployment and having limited farm income are the biggest challenges that rural youth is facing. Rural youth show a strong inclination towards opting for sustainable farming alongside the availability of a supportive network. Regarding to learning capacities rural youth is lacking related to knowledge, communication means, novel approaches and in promoting sustainable farming initiatives. To achieve the goal of sustainability in changing environment, rural youth must have access to continuous training, communication sources, membership, or association with organizations with novel ideas covering all the changes happening in the farming business.

Role of farmers’ entrepreneurial orientation, women’s participation, and information and communication technology use in responsible farm production: a step towards sustainable food production

Responsible production is essential for sustainable development and for ensuring global food security. The concept of responsible production has been well studied in other sectors of the economy, but has yet to gain recognition in the agricultural sector. Therefore, this study examined responsible production in the context of agriculture and the factors affecting responsible farm production in the developing country of Pakistan. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect data from 196 farmers selected using the multistage random sampling method. An independent sample t-test, chi-square test, and ordered probit model were used to analyze the data. The responsible farm production index was estimated based on the climate change adaptation, resource efficiency, carbon footprints, and economic returns of each farm. The mean value of the responsible farm production index is 0.69. The farmers were divided into low-, moderate-, and highly responsible farm producers using cluster analysis. More than 36% of farms were highly responsible. The results revealed that women’s participation in farming activities, extension services, the use of information and communication technologies, and farmer entrepreneurial orientation dimensions significantly affected responsible farm production. Farm producers using the Internet for agriculture had a 1.4% points higher probability of belonging to the highly responsible farm producer category compared to those who did not use the Internet to obtain agricultural information. Farms with women’s participation in agricultural activities were 33.5% points more likely to belong to the highly responsible farm producer category than farms where only males perform agricultural operations. Therefore, women’s empowerment and farmers’ entrepreneurial skills are absolute necessities of responsible farming. This study piques the interests of stakeholders while also adding to the scant body of knowledge on responsible farm production around the world. Furthermore, this study is critical for developing a roadmap for long-term sustainable agricultural development.

Training Needs of Rural Youth: An Analysis in Lucknow District of Uttar Pradesh, India

India's population is predominantly rural, with approximately 68.9% residing in villages. Therefore, rural India truly represents the essence of our country. It is crucial to empower the rural youth by offering them opportunities for growth and well-being that align with their aspirations. However, the modern world demands skilled workers, and industries are increasingly reliant on technological advancements, particularly in information and communication technology (ICT). This rapid pace of technological change necessitates individuals to possess diverse cognitive skills. Consequently, it is imperative to address these challenges and equip India's rural youth with the appropriate education and skills they need to navigate the demanding global landscape. While the government has implemented various programs for rural development, their effectiveness relies heavily on proper execution and implementation. Considering the above facts the present study was conducted with the objective to study the training needs of Rural youth and Suggestions of rural youth to promote their participation in agricultural activities. The study was conducted in the year 2020-2021 for which Lucknow district of Uttar Pradesh of India was selected. Exploratory Research Design was used for the study There are four Tehsils in Lucknow namely Bakshi Ka Talab, Lucknow, Malihabad and Mohanlalganj. Out of these four Tehsils Mohanlalganj Block was selected for the study. For present study 5 villages were selected namely Atrauli, Daudnagar, Bhadesuwa, Hasanpur Kaneri and Barvaliya. From each villages 21 respondents were selected for the study and information were collected regarding their agricultural activities. A total number of 105 respondents were selected through random sampling from eight sample village panchayats. Data was collected through personal interview with a semi-structured schedule from farming and non-farming youth. Percentage, cumulative frequency and rank were used for calculation and drawing the inferences. The results revealed that majority (62.86 per cent) of rural youth need training in cashew and mango production, followed by identification of pest and diseases (58.09 per cent) and post harvest technology (56.19 per cent). Also majority (60.95 per cent) of the respondents suggested local market yard facility should be provided to promote participation of youth in agricultural activities

Rural women's participation in the agricultural activities (plant and animal) In Al-Zawiya sub-district, Baiji district, Salah al-D in Governorate

The Objectives of the study was to find out how rural women in Al-Zawiya sub-district / Baiji district participate in agricultural activities (plant and animal). The data was collected through a personal interview using a questionnaire form prepared for this purpose, which the first part included measuring social and economic variables that may be related to the level of rural women's participation in agricultural activities, and the data was collected through a personal interview using a questionnaire form prepared for this purpose, which included the first part of the form measuring social and economic variables that may be related to the level of rural women's participation in agricultural activities, and the data was collected through a personal interview using a questionnaire (age, marital status, educational level, number of family members working in agriculture, type of farm holding). The second part, it relates to scale for measuring the level of women's participation in agricultural activities (plant and animal), and it included two inspects: First: the field of vegetable agriculture. Second: The agricultural and animal activities field to calculate the values of this variable (28) works. were identified in this field, through which the level of rural women's participation in agricultural and animal activities is numerically determined. To reach the objectives of the research, several statistical methods were used, namely: (arithmetic mean, range, Pearson’s correlation law, Spearman’s correlation law. And standard deviation). The results of the study revealed that the majority of the respondents fall within the category of medium participation, and that the two categories of medium and high participation constitute (76%) of the total respondents, where the study showed that there is a relationship Significant correlation between the level of knowledge and each of (age, educational level, number of family members, farm ownership).
 

Accounting for Heterogeneity among Youth: A Missing Link in Enhancing Youth Participation in Agriculture—A South African Case Study

Youth participation in the agricultural sector remains key to addressing youth unemployment. Young people represent a heterogeneous social group with markedly diverse social and economic needs that require tailor-made support interventions to enhance their participation in agricultural activities. The main objective of this article was to develop distinct youth typologies informed by diverse endowment of livelihood assets, including the psychological assets and entrepreneurial characteristics that shape young people’s career and livelihood choices, including participation in agriculture. A two-stage multivariate analytical approach was applied using principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) to formulate youth typologies. Seven clusters were identified. The seven distinct clusters representing youth typologies were named “Training beneficiaries with access to extension”, “Job secure”, “Females endowed with negative psychological capital”, “Opportunist and determined livestock farmers”, “Social grant reliant”, “Resource poor traditional livestock farmers” and “Non-farming income with access to credit”. The results confirm that young people are indeed a heterogeneous group with diverse support needs. Unpacking the interrelated and multidimensional complexities among the youth is a vital take-off point to inform effective policy and tailor-made support interventions and effectively foster active youth participation in agriculture and related activities. We argue that support initiatives should not only address access to physical resources, but should also foster the development of soft skills such as entrepreneurial skills and boosting the psychological capital of young people while addressing gender inequalities.

Women's input and decision-making in agriculture are associated with diet quality in rural Tanzania.

Women's empowerment is one critical pathway through which agriculture can impact women's nutrition; however, empirical evidence is still limited. We evaluated the associations of women's participation, input, and decision-making in key agricultural and household activities with women's diet quality. We analyzed data from a cross-sectional study of 870 women engaged in homestead agriculture. We used food frequency questionnaires to assess women's diets and computed women's diet quality using the Prime Diet Quality Score (PDQS) (range 0-42), which captures healthy and unhealthy foods. We evaluated women's decision-making in 8 activities, food crop farming, cash crop farming, livestock raising, non-farm economic activities, wage/salary employment, fishing, major household expenditures, and minor household expenditures. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) linear models were used to evaluate associations between (a) women's participation, (b) decision-making, (c) adequate input, (d) adequate extent of independence in decision-making in agriculture, and (e) adequate input in use of agricultural income with their PDQS. Adequate input was defined as input into some, most or all decisions compared to input into few decisions or none. Adequate extent of independence was defined as input to a medium or high extent compared to input to a small extent or none. Median PDQS was 19 (IQR: 16-21). Women's adequate input in decision-making on wage and salary employment (estimate: 4.19, 95% CI: 2.80, 5.57) and minor expenditures were associated with higher PDQS vs. inadequate input. Women with independence in decision-making on livestock production (estimate: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.05, 1.90) and minor household expenditures, and women with adequate decision-making in the use of income from wages/salaries (estimate: 3.16, 95% CI: 2.44, 3.87) had higher PDQS. Participation in agricultural activities was positively associated with PDQS. Women's participation and input in decision-making in wage and salary employment, livestock production, and minor household expenditures were strongly associated with the consumption of better-quality diets. Women participating in multiple farm activities were also likely to have better diet quality. This study adds to the growing evidence on the pathways through which women's empowerment may influence women's nutrition in rural Tanzania.

Drivers and barriers of women participation in agricultural activities in Nigeria

The study examined the drivers of women participation in agricultural activities in Nigeria. A total of 636 women farmers were used for the study and data were collected through interview and questionnaire process. Descriptive statistics, Participation index and Ordered Logit regression were used to analyze the data. The results revealed that the mean age, household size, farming experience and farm size were 44 years, 8 members, 18 years and 3.1 ha respectively. The result also revealed that women farmers in Nigeria engaged themselves in agricultural activities such as crop farming, livestock farming, agricultural trading, poultry farming, horticultural farming and aquaculture farming. Result of the participation index revealed that women farmers were actively involved in agriculture with 49.06 % of the women with high level of participation. The regression analysis revealed that the positive drivers of women participation in agricultural activities were household size, marital status, level of education, farming experience, disposable income, extension service and membership of association. In the contrary, distance to farm is a negative driver of women participation in agricultural activities in the study area. In addition, inadequate financial opportunities and inadequate access to extension services were among the serious constraints that hindered women participation in agricultural activities.

Sociological Analysis of Women Participation in Agricultural Activities in District Rajanpur Punjab, Pakistan

In developed countries where agriculture is the main source of income, women play an important role in agriculture. However, due to a variety of factors in these countries, especially the patriarchal-based system of rural communities in the majority of the region, particularly in Pakistan, their contribution has remained secret. To learn more about these contributions, the current research was carried out in the Punjab district of Rajanpur in Pakistan to determine the extent of women's involvement in agriculture and the health issues that these women faced. A total of 230 female respondents were chosen from the village of Rakh Fazil Pur in the district of Rajan Pur using a purposive sampling technique. A depth interview technique was used to collect data. Females were involved in nearly all activities (p<0.05), from domestic to fieldwork, and they often had health issues. Women agricultural agents should be appointed to address rural women and to bridge the information gap between rural women and research. The role of rural women should be promoted through print and electronic media. Rural women are also involved in a number of activities in livestock raising fodder cutting, chopping, feeding livestock bathing, washing livestock milking cow and goats.

People's participation in using treated wastewater as an approach for sustainability of ecosystem services, green spaces, and farmlands in peri-urban areas: the case study of Kalak-e Bala, Karaj, Iran

Abstract Water scarcity is the most significant challenge facing semi-arid and arid areas because fresh water is often transferred from other areas to these regions, and then discharged as wastewater. Irrigating agricultural lands and green spaces with treated wastewater (TWW) can be thus regarded as a way to reduce pressure on fresh water resources and lead to the utilization of ecosystem services, such as regulating and cultural ones. The most important factor affecting the expansion and sustainability of these areas is people's participation. Therefore, this study reflected on the weight of locals' willingness and attitudes as one of the most effective factors in the development of irrigation with TWW in peri-urban areas and ecological buffer zones. The main indicators were accordingly extracted from previous research and examined through a survey questionnaire, and then analyzed by structural equation modeling (SEM) in the AMOS and LISREL software packages. The indicators were related to individuals' health in product consumption (health), people's activities in farmlands and green spaces (assurance), and users' distance from farmlands (accessibility). The study results revealed that accessibility was the most important factor, and then health and assurance were effective in people's participation in agricultural activities in farmlands irrigated with TWW in peri-urban areas and increasing green-space buffer zones.

Extent of Women Participation in Agricultural Activities: A Case Study of Rain-Fed Area Pothohar, Pakistan

Extent of Women Participation in Agricultural Activities: A Case Study of Rain-Fed Area Pothohar, Pakistan

To estimate the rural youth with their extent of participation in agricultural activities in Bhanupratappur (Chhattisgarh)

India is an agriculturally dominated country or it will not be wrong to say that India lives in villages. Primary occupation of villagers is still agriculture and its allied ventures. India is a young country and rural youth constitutes about 41% of total population of India. In the present scenario the interest of rural people especially rural youth is declining towards agriculture. According to population census 2011, India had total youth population of 325.2 million, which is 35% of the total population. India is an agriculturally dominated country or it will not be wrong to say that India lives in villages. Primary occupation of villagers is still agriculture and its allied ventures. India is a young country and rural youth constitutes about 41% of total population of India. Out of this, about 70% were rural youth and remaining 30% were urban youth. As majority of the youth comes from rural areas, they are considered as the nation builders of tomorrow. This important section of the rural population can respond to the needs of country only if they are offered fruitful opportunities for growing up as useful citizens. The present study was carried out in purposively selected Bhanupratappur block of kanker district (C.G.). A stratified random sampling procedure was followed in order to obtain the appropriate sample of rural youth. The total sample size was 70. The dependent variable was participation of rural youth in agricultural activities.

DETERMINANTS OF THE PERFORMANCE OF MICROFINANCE BANKS IN CANE ENHANCING AND ITS IMPACT ON SUGAR INDUSTRY OF SINDH

Sugar cane is the second biggest cash crop of Pakistan, which contributes 3.4% to national income and 0.7 percent in gross domestic product as well sugar cane provides ecologically best stimulus for economic development. We cannot refute the importance of sugar cane cultivator’s participation in this sector. This research study is organized to identify Determinants of the Performance Microfinance Banks in Cane Enhancing and its Impact on Sugar Industry of Sindh. Data was collected from 250 respondents were interviewed Sugar Cane Growers (SCG) and Agriculture Expert (AE) as well-structured through purposive sampling technique within asymmetric survey methodology conducted. SCG and AE remains 63% respondents were illiterate and their main occupation crop cultivation of sugar cane crop 76.7% respondents cultivating less than 12.5 acres and 20% respondents cultivating less than 25.0 acres in Sindh which is the largest population around 70% families stays in below the poverty line. This area demand attention. Sugar Cane is an integral part of agriculture and this sector is fulfilling the provincial demand of the country. State should support and privilege the efforts of the SCG and AE for grow up and help them to crop cultivation for extent of the on-farm practices on high input cost and equal income equilibrium as far as cultivation high input costing so they can get guidance of Prudential Regulations and Agriculture Financing for the take care of them, on farm activities and pricing should have to subsidized. Micro finance institutions should play an integral part for sustainable economic agriculture development, going forward research emphasis to empower sugar cane population in which the segment should grow. The government and Microfinance banks should focus on promotion and paid participation in agricultural activities, monetary benefits as well as power of decision making with the recognition of their work. Keywords: Production Cost, Agricultural Labor Markets, Support Price, Agriculture, Irrigation, Research and Development.

Gendered small-scale crops and power dynamics: A case of uninga (sesame) production amongst the Ndau of south-eastern Zimbabwe

Women in Ndau communities, like in many African communities, are the fulcrum of household economies that ensure improved livelihoods of their communities. Thus, they are an indispensable factor in the sustainable development equation of their communities. It is sadly true that women do not own land in most African societies. Consequently, most studies analyse the realities of gender inequality in the distribution of resources that include land. However, very few studies recognise, appreciate and amplify the role of women in reproducing and transforming the society through their participation in agricultural activities even on pieces of land that they do not call their own. In this article we examined the power and influence that women derive from their agricultural activities, especially their association with the cultivation of crops that have often been labelled as feminine. We sought to recognise the agency of women not only in transforming livelihoods, but also gender inequalities in terms of control and influence on the use, valorisation and sale of agricultural produce. We examined the phenomenon of the crops associated with female gender from a new perspective that compels a rereading of the narratives that often dwarf women’s agricultural activities and crops associated with them. This article focussed on the production of uninga [sesame] amongst the Ndau of Musikavanthu and Chipinge South Constituencies covering areas that include Rimbi, Manzvire, Mwanyisa, Rimai, Rukangare and Garahwa in south-eastern Zimbabwe. The article’s overall theoretical framework is the African women theology that emphasises on African women as agents, not subordinated and passive subjects of history. The study is qualitative, and it used interviews, focus group discussions and observations as instruments for gathering data.Contribution: The study amplified the transformative role of women in society through their participation in agricultural activities. The findings acknowledged the complementarity of women and men in uninga production in a religio-cultural setting that has often shown biases towards patriarchy. The results are in sync with the reconstructive and liberative motif of the African women theology, which envisage a transformed African society that celebrates gender inclusivity through facilitation of dialogue between the two genders.

INVOLVEMENT OF RURAL WOMEN IN MANAGING ON-FARM SUSTAINABLE DAIRY PRACTICES IN DISTRICT OKARA

In Pakistan, livestock is playing a considerable role in the country’s economy, agricultural development and fulfilling the domestic dairy needs of households. We cannot negate the prominence of females’ participation in this sector. This study is organized to identify the involvement of rural women in managing dairy farm practices. Data was collected from 120 rural women who were participating in dairy farm activities in District Okara through purposive sampling technique with the help of a well-structured interview schedule. The results showed that mostly young women in the age group of 19 to 38 were involved in dairy farm practices. 60.0% of the respondents were illiterate and almost 65.0% family’s occupation was agriculture. 32.5% respondents were involved in dairy farm practice from 6 to 10 years while half of the respondents were spending their 8 to 10 hours in these activities. Their involvement in on-farm activities was unpaid and considered as their domestic duty. Mostly, they were involved in managing on-farm sustainable dairy practices that includes; fodder cutting, watering, cleaning Chad and taking care of animals. Their participation and management of on-farm activities should be documented and acknowledged. The government should focus on female’s education and paid participation in agricultural activities. Keywords: Women participation, On-farm livestock management practices, District Okara, Punjab, Pakistan

FEMALE WORK PARTICIPATION IN AGRICULTRUE IN ANDHRA PRADESH: AN ANALYTICAL STUDY

Agriculture is one of the important and crucial occupations in Andhra Pradesh. More than 66 per cent of population is involved in agriculture and allied activities in the state. Women's participation in agricultural activities has been continuously growing compared to that of men which not only implies increased dependence of women on agricultural sector but also reiterates their crucial role in the sustainable growth and future of the farm sector. In other words changes in relation to economic and social changes have crept in the villages since the launch of the liberalization, privatization and globalization (LPG). Youth in the villages in Andhra Pradesh have been migrated to the towns and cities to eke out livelihood and joined the construction works and other menial works. As a result of it, the role of women in rural India has become multiple and their share in the agriculture workforce has increased since 1991.

Pajanan Pestisida Sebagai Faktor Risiko Kejadian Berat Badan Lahir Rendah (BBLR)

Background:
 Low birth weight (LBW) is one of the causes of infants death. One of the factors that is proven to be associated with LBW incidence is pesticide exposure to pregnant women. The high number of female farmers in the agricultural sector will increase the risk of pesticide exposure in pregnant women.
 Objectives:
 This study aims to describe how pesticide exposure can be a risk factor for the incidence of LBW.
 Research method:
 This study is a systematic study that used meta-synthesis aggregation approach. The search for articles focused on articles that examined the risk factors for pesticide exposure on the incidence of LBW in pregnant women which was conducted on the online databases of Science Direct, Scopus, PubMed, Springer, Google Scholar, and Garuda Portal. The criteria for the articles used were national observational journals indexed at least 4 and indexed international journals published in 2010-2020.
 Result:
 There were 8 articles that match to the criteria and research topic. Factors that were proven to increase the risk of LBW incidence in pregnant women were agricultural activities related to pesticide, participation in agricultural activities, completeness of PPE, storage of pesticide, duration of exposure to pesticide, frequency of exposure to pesticide, amount of pesticide mixture, and types of pesticide used.
 Conclusion:
 Pesticide exposure to pregnant women causes the accumulation of pesticide residues in the body, thus reducing the formation of thyroid hormones and IGF-1 which can cause LBW.
 
 Keywords: low birth weight; pesticide exposure; pregnant women

Pajanan Pestisida Sebagai Faktor Risiko Kejadian Berat Badan Lahir Rendah (BBLR) : Sebuah Kajian Sistematik

Background:
 Low birth weight (LBW) is one of the causes of infants death. One of the factors that is proven to be associated with LBW incidence is pesticide exposure to pregnant women. The high number of female farmers in the agricultural sector will increase the risk of pesticide exposure in pregnant women.
 Objectives:
 This study aims to describe how pesticide exposure can be a risk factor for the incidence of LBW.
 Research method:
 This study is a systematic study that used meta-synthesis aggregation approach. The search for articles focused on articles that examined the risk factors for pesticide exposure on the incidence of LBW in pregnant women which was conducted on the online databases of Science Direct, Scopus, PubMed, Springer, Google Scholar, and Garuda Portal. The criteria for the articles used were national observational journals indexed at least 4 and indexed international journals published in 2010-2020.
 Result:
 There were 9 articles that match to the criteria and research topic. Factors that were proven to increase the risk of LBW incidence in pregnant women were agricultural activities related to pesticide, participation in agricultural activities, completeness of PPE, storage of pesticide, duration of exposure to pesticide, frequency of exposure to pesticide, amount of pesticide mixture, and types of pesticide used.
 Conclusion:
 Pesticide exposure to pregnant women causes the accumulation of pesticide residues in the body, thus reducing the formation of thyroid hormones and IGF-1 which can cause LBW.

Assessment of Participation of Women Farm Workers in Agricultural Activities in Maize-Wheat Cropping System of Udaipur District

Women play a major and crucial role within the agricultural operations. Agriculture is the major occupation in our country and more than 70% of the population depends directly or indirectly on agriculture. In India, 82% of the farmers own marginal and small land less than 2 hectares (Food and agriculture organization). Most Percentages of the women hail from rural areas where the impact of science and technology on the standard of living is limited. This study was conducted to investigate the Percentage participation of women farm workers in agriculture activities in district Udaipur during 2019-20. Five villages of Vallabh Nagar and Gogunda block/Tehsil of the Udaipur district of Rajasthan state were selected randomly for this study, representing the maize-wheat cropping area of the zone. An interview schedule was used to collect data from a random sample from 500 farmers with farm units less than or equal to 2 hectares and follows maize-wheat cropping system. Women in the study area showed active participation in agricultural activities together and alone in Gogunda and Vallabh Nagar blocks. Women of study area also showed the highest traditional participation and spends much time in agriculture activities. The average time spent by women per hectare basis in weeding operations, cob picking, stalk harvesting during maize crop are 94-161, 214, 99-118 hours/hectare/woman respectively and 110 – 138 hours/hectare/woman during harvesting in wheat crop. These activities are considered the most drudgery prone activities in Maize-Wheat cropping system. Moreover, women perform some of these identified tasks traditionally due to limited knowledge and skill in applying science and technology to daily living, which consumes most of their time and energy. These were the major causes of discontentment among women involved in agricultural activities. There is no doubt that some of the traditional implement have low risk. Still, at the same time they also have a low level of productivity whereas, improved agricultural tools and implements provides high productivity.

Strategies to optimize women’s participation in palm cattle integration

Palm cattle integration as an integrated farming system is intrinsically complex. The model involves different processes and interactions between various actors in the value chain. The participation of women farmers in agriculture is considered the primary social capital in creating agricultural sustainability and improving productivity, but norms and socio-cultural aspects often dictate these roles. Investing in women in smallholder-based supply chains is expected to increase productivity, reduce costs, and improve broader goals. Approximately 49% of agricultural households comprise of women farmers. While both men and women contribute significantly to palm cattle integration, rural women’s roles in production activities and technology transfer are not fully documented. On the other side, women’s participation in agricultural activities is still faced with various constraints. Hence, this study’s aim is twofold: to analyze the driving factors and constraints that motivate women’s participation and formulate strategies to increase women’s participation in palm cattle integration. This study provides useful information to develop appropriate intervention policies and strategies to support, enhance, and increase women’s participation in palm cattle integration.