Women Farmers Research Articles

Study on Availability, Accessibility and Problems Associated with Use of ICTs among Rural Women of Assam, India

This study analyse the availability as well as accessibility and problems associated with use of ICTs among rural women from the state of Assam and similarly Jorhat and Nagaon districts of Assam, India was selected for the present study including a total number of 400 respondents who were selected as considering the Simple Random sampling method. The findings revealed that majority of the farmers are having mobile phones as well as television and radio. Further ranking method was used to identify the problems faced by the respondent with use of ICTs. Among the various problems faced by the respondents while using the ICTs, “Lack of confidence while using ICTs” has been given ranked I (0.96), followed by “High cost of ICT Services”, assigned ranked II (0.91) and “Irregularity in power supply”, was ranked III (0.89). To provide benefits to the women farmers by using the ICTs and to reduce the gender imbalances from the society rural women’s access towards ICTs and the constraints associated while use of ICT by the rural need to be studied. Hence the present study has been undertaken to address some of these areas. Thus as a whole the main purpose of this study examines the extent of rural women’s availability, accessibility and constraints associated while use of ICTs by rural women.

PARTICIPATION OF GENDER IN PADDY CULTIVATION PRACTICES

The present study was conducted in Assam focusing on gender roles and division of labor in different activities related to paddy cultivation. A total of 320 numbers of respondents were selected for the study. The data were collected through personal interview with the help of research schedule during 2022. The participation of respondents engaged in paddy cultivation were studied in seven domains: activities related to seed, raising of nursery and transplanting, preparation of field, fertilizer application, water management and intercultural practices, harvesting and Post- harvest and marketing of produce. The responses were collected in frequency and percentage in three-point continuum of “Active participation”, “Partial participation” and “No participation” having the score of 3, 2 and 1 respectively. The overall extent of participation of both men and women in paddy cultivation was calculated to gain an overall view of low, medium and high level of participation. A two sample Z- tests was performed to determine whether there existed any difference in paddy cultivation practices between men and women. Thus, frequency, percentage, Mean, Standard deviation and two sample Z test were used as statistical tools to conduct the present study. The results revealed that majority of the farm women (57.50%) had active participation in seed preservation, transplanting of seedlings into main field (83.75%), post- harvest activities (91.25%). Men were playing role in fertilization (66.25%), water table maintenance (89.38%), chemical applications (89.38%), marketing related activities (90.63%). It can be concluded that women contribute equally with men. They should empower with all necessities which will help to reduce gender gap in agriculture.

Empowerment of Women Farmer Groups in Utilization of Idle Land

Unused land in Indonesia can be found everywhere, especially on the big islands. Unutilized land is also found in rural areas. In fact, idle land should not be wasted land. If handled properly, it will be able to improve the community's economy. On the other hand, women in rural areas have a lot of free time because they are usually not tied to a permanent job. Utilizing idle land by empowering women who are members of the Women Farmer Group, is the strategy that will be applied in this research. The purpose of this study is to describe the use of unused land in the surrounding environment through community empowerment, namely a group of women. The Farmer Women's Group in Gadog Cianjur Village is the empowered community in this study. The research method used is descriptive with a qualitative approach. How women are empowered to cultivate idle land to produce benefits for people's lives, will be described step by step. The women's spare time (Women Farmers Group) is put to good use by cultivating idle land in their village. Unused land that initially did not produce anything, can eventually be used as a place to grow vegetables. The results of cultivating on unused land which were worked on by these women, had an impact on increasing the family's economy and better social relations.

Implementation of Rotary Dryer for Cassava Drying as a Raw Material for Mocaf Flour Production

Modified cassava flour (mocaf) is one of the innovative cassava processed products with high market value and promising business prospects as a substitute for imported wheat flour. The women's farming group (KWT) Ngudi Sari, located in the village of Tanjungsari, Gunungkidul, has processed cassava into mocaf flour and various cassava-based products, including cassava chips, tiwul, gatot, mocaf sticks, and various cookies. During the production process of mocaf flour, one of the common challenges faced is the drying of cassava chips, which has traditionally relied on sunlight and home-based drying methods. With the increasing demand for mocaf flour, large-scale drying of cassava chips becomes necessary. To address this challenge, a technology of rotary dryer is implemented to KWT Ngudi Sari to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the cassava raw material drying process. This outreach project aims to empower KWT Ngudi Sari and boost the production capacity of the resulting mocaf flour. The application of this appropriate technology is expected to improve the quality of cassava as a raw material for mocaf production and enhance its energy efficiency, thus contributing to the economic development of KWT Ngudi Sari. Throughout the project, mentoring, monitoring, and evaluation are also conducted to measure the progress in knowledge and skills of the partners involved.

New Possibilities for Women’s Empowerment through Agroecology in Himachal Pradesh, India

In 2018, the state of Himachal Pradesh in north India launched an initiative to convert all its farmers to natural farming (NF), an agroecological approach. The aim was to address multiple challenges related to rural livelihoods, high input costs, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. This paper is based on a qualitative case study of the state programme to transition farmers to NF. It seeks to understand how its mechanisms support and empower small and marginal women farmers. In addition to identifying mechanisms that facilitate the effective uptake of NF, the case study sought women’s views on whether these mechanisms increased spaces for decision making and developed capabilities and autonomy. Framed within the vision of reclaiming food sovereignty, various mechanisms such as training in villages, participating in NF groups and networks, visits to model farms, and adopting leadership roles offered new pathways for women farmers to gain confidence and capabilities. Women began to participate in spaces that had been culturally and structurally denied to them. This case study demonstrates how agroecology initiatives, with a particular emphasis on gender, can offer women various opportunities for decision making, income generation, and creative expression. These initiatives also expand community agency and enable the acquisition of knowledge necessary for sustainable ecosystems.

BARRIERS TO AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVE RESOURCES AMONG FEMALE FARMERS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN ZONE OF NIGERIA

Women are the most disempowered, experiencing inadequate right to land and decision-making in agricultural production resources. The study analysed barriers in access to productive agricultural resources by women farmers in south-eastern zone of Nigeria. Purposive and random sampling methods were used in selecting 500 respondents. Percentages and Likert-scale were used in analysing the data. The results show that women had little access to most vital productive assets in the following proportion 19.8% (land), 35.4% (credit), 33.3 (extension services, 1.9% (tractor) and 1.9% (insurance). Illiteracy (mean score (MS) of 4.62), poor access to credit (MS of 4.20) and lack of government support/incentives (MS of 3.91) were the major militating factors against women farmers’ access to these productive resources. The study concluded that women were constrained with many problems in accessing productive resources. It is recommended that land tenure policies to be reviewed to favour women's access, acquisition and use of land while moderating the men’s over-hoarding of agricultural productive resources.

Peran Kelompok Wanita Tani ( KWT) di Tanjung Pinang

Food safety can be implemented by optimizing outdoor space, namely: planting sustainable food crops. In addition, outdoor land can increase the role of farmer income reducing consumer spending and environmental sustainability. For research purposes, it is used to describe the role of women farmers and the obstacles faced by their group. The survey method is used as a research method with primary and secondary data. The group of women farmers consisted of 1 person, and one of the respondents we interviewed was the KWT manager. One of KWT’s tasks is to plant various vegetables such as spinach, kale, green beans, limes, etc. Vegetables grown at the market are also sold every two weeks by groups of women farmers and sold online. The government is also involved in women’s farming groups, such as donating money to KWT. Apart from its mission, there are several obstacles such as rotten beans during planting due to rain, and rotten beans having to be thrown away because they cannot be planted. Recycle.

Gender, rainfall endowment, and farmers’ heterogeneity in wheat trait preferences in Ethiopia

Wheat is a vital cereal crop for smallholders in Ethiopia. Despite over fifty years of research on wheat varietal development, consideration of gendered trait preferences in developing target product profiles for wheat breeding is limited. To address this gap, our study used sex-disaggregated survey data and historical rainfall trends from the major wheat-growing regions in Ethiopia. The findings indicated heterogeneity in trait preferences based on gender and rainfall endowment. Men respondents tended to prefer wheat traits with high straw yield and disease-resistance potential, while women showed a greater appreciation for wheat traits related to good taste and cooking quality. Farmers in high rainfall areas seemed to prioritize high straw yield and disease resistance traits, while those in low rainfall areas valued good adaptation traits more highly. Most of the correlation coefficients among the preferred traits were positive, indicating that farmers seek wheat varieties with traits that serve multiple purposes. Understanding men’s and women’s preferences and incorporating them in breeding and seed systems could contribute to the development of more targeted and effective wheat varieties that meet the diverse needs of men and women farmers in Ethiopia.

Inovasi Manisan Tomat (Solanum lycopersicum) sebagai Upaya Peningkatan Pendapatan Petani di Kecamatan Widang, Tuban

Tomatoes are one of the most widely cultivated horticultural crops in the region Tuban Regency. One of the women farmer groups that often cultivate tomatoes is the Farmers Women’s Group in is the Farmers Women’s Group in Widang Subdistrict. The Farmers Women’s Group has tomato plants with high yields. But sometimes the price of tomatoes is very low causing the Farmers Women’s Group to experience significant losses. The author sees this condition as an opportunity to increase the use value of tomatoes so that they have a higher price. One of the efforts that can be done is by using tomatoes as raw material for making candied dried tomatoes. Candied dried tomatoes are a very popular food and have wide market opportunities. This has been proven by the high sales of candied dried tomatoes in several regions in Indonesia. The author sincerely hopes that this community service activity will be able to increase the income of the Farmers Women’s Group in Widang District. The Farmer Women's Group is able to make candied dried tomatoes into one of the foods and souvenirs that are in demand by tourists visiting the Tuban Regency area. Community service activities were carried out at the Agricultural Extension Center of Widang District, Tuban Regency, which was attended by around 15 farm women. This activity contains counseling related to the innovation of candied tomatoes, followed by planning and implementing activities to make sweets made from tomato fruit. Armed with knowledge and practice, participants from the Widang District Women Farmers Group were interested and planned to apply the idea and innovation of candied dried tomatoes during the next harvest season. Keywords: farmer women's group ,sweets, tomatoes

Pemberdayaan Kelompok Wanita Tani (KWT) Tunas Berkah Kota Blitar dengan Metode Parcipatory Rural Appraisal

Community empowerment is a way to increase and strengthen community skills to participate in development which is carried out energetically. The expected result is that the community can resolve the problems experienced in a more flexible (independent) and self-sufficient way. The community empowerment approach that is realized in development in a participatory manner (Participatory Rural Appraissal) is very suitable for business groups so that they can then overcome problems that arise. in group activities. The partner of this service is the Tunas Berkah Women's Farmers Group which operates in the field of vegetable plant breeding, which is domiciled in RW 04 Gedog Village, Sananwetan District, Blitar City. Service Objectives: to form partners who are more productive and have a high entrepreneurial spirit and values, to improve students' experience of studying outside campus as one of the implementations of MBKM. Implementation of activities includes program planning, administrative preparation and team coordination, Continuous assistance from pre-production to post-production, Activity Evaluation and Control. The results of the activities achieved are Overcoming seed production problems, overcoming business management and human resource problems, Overcoming seed marketing problems. Using the PRA method, FGD activities, PRA training/socialization, nursery cultivation training, nursery business management training, and marketing have been carried out which can increase the capacity of groups with larger business scales that have an organizational and economic impact.

ANALISIS FAKTOR DALAM UPAYA PENINGKATAN PRODUKTIVITAS TENAGA KERJA WANITA TANI TERHADAP USAHATANI CABAI RAWIT DI PAOK PAMPANG, LOMBOK TIMUR

Cayenne pepper plants are very suitable in areas that have high soil fertility, one of which is in the Rinjani Geopark Area. East Lombok Regency is one of the cayenne pepper commodity producing areas in NTB Province. Cayenne pepper farming is one of the livelihoods of the local population, especially the farm women's labor, the productivity of farm women's labor can be a source of competitive advantage of cayenne pepper farming, the higher the productivity of farm women's labor, the higher the production of cayenne pepper in East Lombok Regency so that the importance of measuring the increase in productivity of farm women's labor based on the variables obtained will be measured which variables have the most significant influence and will be seen the correlation value to the productivity of farm women's labor. Respondents used in this study were female workers who worked on chili farms in Paok Pampang village. Data collection using survey techniques by conducting interviews using questionnaires to 35 respondents. Then to analyze the factors that affect the productivity of women's labor on the cayenne pepper farm in Paok Pampang village, Sukamulia sub-district, East Lombok with reference to the variables that affect the labor time of women farmers.

Penguatan UMKM di Desa Sumberjo Melalui Program 3P: Pembuatan Brand, NIB, dan Pendampingan Sertifikasi Halal

Purpose: This research aims to discuss strengthening Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) of Women Farmer Groups in Sumberjo Village through various programs, namely: Brand Creation, NIB Registration (Business Identification Number), and Halal Certification registration. Methodology/approach: This activity was conducted in Sumberjo village, Polewali Mandar district, focusing on the Women's Farmer Group. The form of implementing activities is carried out by carrying out various steps, namely socialization and direct assistance to the community. Results/findings: The results of the activity are solving partner problems by transferring science and technology in the form of socialization, workshops, and assistance in the form of 3P such as Brand Creation, Business Identification Number Registration, Assistance with halal product certification, Product Innovation Development, and, Digitalization training for managing MSME websites, financial report bookkeeping applications and market place and delivery of production equipment assistance to partners. Limitation: referring to UP2KKK's needs, service activities are limited and focus on branding issues, business registration numbers, and halal certification. Contributions: This activity has an impact on KWT Gemah Ripah related to the development of products of higher quality and in terms of product quantity.

Women farmers’ access to marshlands for agricultural food production in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Land is a crucial resource in agricultural food production and serves as a symbol of wealth, power, and identity for rural communities. Yet, the persistent gender gap in accessing land and other productive resources has resulted in the poor performance of largely female-dominated smallholder agriculture. This study applies a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative data from 232 participants to increase understanding of how women farmers access land for agricultural production in Kabare and Mulungwishi marshlands in the southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo. We articulate our research around these questions: (i) How do women access land and perceive land tenure security in marshlands? (ii)What are the sources of inequality in land access patterns in marshlands, as perceived by women farmers? (iii) What factors affect women's desire to own or acquire farmland?The findings show significant differences in patterns of women's access to land, its size, and the perception of land tenure in the two regions. Women farmers interviewed are aware of gender inequalities firmly rooted in each area's customs and cultural norms, which tend to give men more opportunities to access and control family land resources.Interestingly, a considerable proportion of women (11%) often expressed a desire for land ownership, with marital status, household size, and income generated per cropping season being the significant predictors. The findings provide insights into women's pathways, determinants of acquiring land, and related challenges. Findings call for policy interventions to strengthen women's empowerment and prioritize their access to productive resources.

Breaking Barriers: Engaging Women Farmers in Implementing Participatory Guarantee Systems for Sustainable Crop Production

Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) are community-based certification schemes guaranteeing sustainable and high-quality crop production. These systems can be particularly beneficial for smallholder farmers, including women who need more resources to obtain expensive third-party certifications such as organic or fair-trade. However, research on the implementation of PGS for women smallholder farmers is scarce. This study examines the implementation of Participatory Guarantee Systems in small-scale agriculture conducted by women farmers. The study was conducted using qualitative methods, which included interviews with 16 participants. The women farmer communities in Claket Village, Mojokerto Regency, Indonesia, were used as a case study. The study found that implementing PGS requires the assistance of NGOs to identify stakeholders such as farming communities, consumers, and other interested parties in promoting organic farming. Secondly, the community establishes a set of guidelines and procedures for crop production to facilitate the certification process. Thirdly, regular inspections and evaluations are necessary to ensure the crops meet the established criteria. The critical hurdle to implementing PGS in Indonesia is the limited capacity of small-scale farmers, especially women, to document their activities for certification. Thus, intensive training and capacity building are needed to enhance their production techniques and documentation abilities to meet the established criteria. Finally, implementing PGS is a collective action that is crucial in building trust among stakeholders and ensuring that the certification process is credible and transparent.

Pemanfaatan Jahe Gajah sebagai Produk Suplemen di Pekon Selapan, Kecamatan Pardasuka, Kabupaten Pringsewu

The community engagement team of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Lampung, conducted community services in the Jaya Lestari Pekon Selapan farmer group, Pardasuka District, Pringsewu Regency. The partner's problem is that elephant ginger (Zingiber officinale var. officinarum) still needs to be optimal in its use, limited to being harvested and then sold directly to collectors, and the selling price on the market is low. Farming groups have never used elephant ginger as a product. The activity aims to educate the public that elephant ginger can be utilized and developed to be processed into a product dosage form, which can add economic value by being made into an antioxidant health supplement product in the form of a pulvis preparation (powder). As well as increasing the capacity and welfare of the community through empowering the potential of the village resources. The method for implementing did through focus group discussions (FGD) included conveying theory through lectures, interactive discussion, and accompanying practical demonstrations in making elephant ginger powder products. The results of this activity show the high enthusiasm of farmer groups and women farmer groups (KWT) in producing elephant ginger powder products.

Communication media types for optimising yards in achieving family food security

Food security, particularly at the family level, is closely linked to women farmers' effective utilisation of yards. This study emphasises the significance of communication media as valuable sources of information for optimising yard spaces. Various forms of communication media, including forums, electronic, digital, and print media, play a crucial role in this context. The research employs a quantitative approach with qualitative data, adhering to a post-positivistic paradigm. Cluster sampling was used, involving 103 women farmers as the sample group. Quantitative data processing and analysis were performed using the scoring and descriptive methods. The findings reveal that direct communication methods, such as consulting neighbours, family members, fellow farmers within women's groups, and external contacts, are preferred by women farmers. Indirect communication via forums like WhatsApp (WA) meetings also serves as an essential platform for discussions, information exchange, and sharing experiences related to yard utilisation.

ISLAMIC LAW PERSPECTIVE ON GENDER EQUALITY IN IMPROVING FAMILY WELFARE

<p>Gender equality is a global issue that can contribute to improving the country's economy. The role of women in improving family welfare is very important for economic development. Islam has provided space for women to have the right to work. This study analyzes the contribution of female farm workers to family welfare in East Luwu Regency. The contribution is in the form of increasing family income and family financial management strategies. In addition, this study analyzes the perspective of Islamic law on working wives. The method used in this study is a mixed method. Quantitative methods to measure the contribution of female farm workers to family income and qualitative methods to analyze family financial management strategies, as well as the perspective of Islamic law on working wives. The results of the study show that female farm workers greatly contribute to increasing family income. In addition, women farm workers have a good financial management strategy by implementing long-term investments in the form of cattle and children's education. The perspective of Islamic law towards working wives is based on family conditions and situations. Islam does not prohibit wives from working as long as they do not violate Islamic law<strong></strong></p>

Women Farmers Awareness in Stunting Prevention Actions through the Community Development and Empowerment Program (Pro-Bebaya) in North Samarinda District, Indonesia

Stunting is a chronic nutritional problem that results in impaired child growth. To reduce the prevalence of stunting, preventive action is needed, in this case in the form of maternal behavior in efforts to prevent stunting in the family. The Samarinda City Government is committed to carrying out integrated actions to accelerate the reduction in the number of stunting cases through the community development and empowerment program (Pro Bebaya) especially in rural areas. Awareness of farming households, especially women farmers, in taking action to prevent stunting is very important. This research aims to provide an overview of the behavior of women farmers as a form of awareness in efforts to prevent stunting in farming families through their knowledge about stunting, providing exclusive breast milk, complementary food, and a clean and healthy lifestyle (PHBS), attitudes and actions taken to prevent it. stunting which then creates awareness for preventing stunting in farming families. The design of this research is cross-sectional. The total sample of 59 was selected purposively, namely female farmers, and farmer's wives who have children aged 0-2 years) who are active in posyandu activities. The data analysis method used descriptive associative analysis and bivariate Spearman Rank Correlation. The results of the research show that there wasis a very weak and unidirectional correlation (-) between age, working status, and the number of children in women farmers' awareness of preventive action against stunting, while the relationship was very weak in the same direction (+) only with the education factor. The relationship between knowledge, attitudes, and stunting prevention actions on women farmers' awareness of preventive actions showed a strong and significant correlation at 0.01.

INOVASI LATIHAN FISIK DALAM MENGURANGI NYERI PUNGGUNG BAWAH DI KELURAHAN KROBOKAN

Background: Low back pain is a case that is often found in society, this is because people still do not pay attention to proper body posture when carrying out daily activities so as not to cause low back pain. In the Kerobokan sub-district itself, after observation, most of the vulnerable aged 30-60 years had complaints of lower back pain, especially when doing certain activities, such as sitting for too long, lifting gallons, and several other activities. The target and output of this activity are in the form of posters and pocketbooks that will be given to the community so that they can provide benefits. This activity was carried out in the front yard of the Kerobokan Village Hall with the target participants being women farmer groups, PKK, and residents of Kerobokan Village as many as 30 Participants. The results obtained based on the questionnaire showed a significant change in increasing knowledge of lower back pain reduction education before and after the delivery of the material. It can be concluded that knowledge influences the level of society to pay more attention to the right position during activities to prevent lower back pain.

Utilization of Household Waste to Produce the Fungus Aspergillus niger as Biopesticide and Biological Fertilizer in the Jaya Mulia Farmer Women Group

The Jaya Mulia Farmer Women's Group (KWT) is a group of women farmers in Krajan, Suren, Ledokombo, Jember, East Java. KWT Jaya Mulia has problems in producing the Aspergillus niger fungus, namely the availability of the F0 generation A. niger fungus, which still buys long-livers to obtain it at a high price. The high price of F0 generation seeds is caused by the expensive materials used, so another alternative is needed to replace the F0 generation seeds of the fungus A. niger to reduce prices. Producing the biological agent A. niger is a very prospective business, so the introduction of A. niger cultivation techniques need to add to the knowledge and skills of women farmer groups to produce biological agents independently. Based on the situation above, the community service activities to help provide training on cultivation techniques and the production of biological agents in the Jaya Mulia farmer women's group are considered relevant to do. The method used in carrying out community service activities is a participatory community empowerment method that emphasizes community involvement in all activities carried out. This community service activity is planned in four stages of activity, namely stage socialization or counseling, skills training stage, evaluation stage, and mentoring. The activity was attended by 25 members of the Jaya Mulia Farmer Women's Group. Based on the results of the activities that have been carried out, it is known that community service activities can increase the knowledge, skills, and income of farmers in carrying out agricultural cultivation.