Association of Age and SES of Rural Women with their participation in Farming Activities

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1 International Journal of Agricultural Invention 1(1):71-75: June, 2016 Association of Age and SES of Rural Women with their participation in Farming Activities Kavita Jain, Anant Kumar 1 and Ummed Singh 2 K.V.K, G.V.M., Sardarshahr, Churu, Rajasthan 1 K.V.K, Ghaziabad, U.P. 2 J. V. College, Baraut, Baghpat, U.P. drkavijain11@gmail.com Abstract The agricultural scenario in Rural India presents a very intricate picture of role of women in farming activities. The present study was conducted in district Churu of Rajasthan. Total sample consisted of 300 rural women from 12 villages of 3 panchayat samities of district Churu. Result shows that out of 10 farming activities, extent of participation of rural women was noticed high i.e. more than 80% in 4 farming activities i.e. cleaning of field, seed selection and cleaning, intercultural operations and harvesting. low in 3 farming activities i.e. manure application, irrigation, and pesticide application whereas nil in 3 activities i.e. ploughing, fertilizer application and seed treatment and sowing. Farming activities like cleaning of fields, seed selection and harvesting were the items of maximum participation while manure and pesticide application activities were the items of least participation in all the 3 age groups i.e. younger, middle and older. SES was measured in 3 parameters viz. low, medium and high. High SES respondents participated very poorly for all the farming activities but a little better they participated for seed selection. In medium SES, participated was noticed maximum for seed selection and harvesting i.e and 46.4 percent respectively, while lowest for manure application i.e. 2 (28.5). Respondents of low SES participated to their maximum i.e. 142 for 4 farming activities viz. cleaning of field, seed selection, intercultural operations and harvesting with their respective percentage 51.4, 47.9, 54.8 and It is well analyzed from the results that the farming activities like seed selection was the item of maximum participation whereas, 2 farming activities i.e. manure and pesticides application were the item of least participation in all the age groups as well as all SES categories. Keywords: Rural women, SES, Farming Activities, Age Women participation in agriculture production includes a variety of task ranging from land preparation to the harvesting. Almost 70-80% of the agricultural operations are efficiently performed by women. There is no denying fact that rural women have been contributing largely to the country s economy that is mainly agricultural based. Even after seeing women s contribution in agriculture to such a great extent, her role as an active worker, producer of goods and in service has not been duly recognized. Farm women s contribution on farm and home is only dimly visible, poorly counted, under acknowledged and overly confirmed to low wage. Her implements are traditional and her work is back-breaking. Women in agriculture have vast potential, intelligence and ability, which is tapped properly may enable to join the main stream of agriculture development. Thus, to recognize and document the work of farm women, the present study was undertaken with the following objectives such as to find out the extent of participation of rural women in farming activities from land preparation to harvesting and also to find out the association of age and socio- economic status of rural women with their participation in farming activities. MATERIALS AND METHODS The present study was conducted in purposively selected district Churu, Rajsthan. The ISSN:

2 Kavita Jain, Anant Kumar and Ummed Singh district Churu comprises 6 panchayat samities namely Churu, Ratangarh, Taranagar, Rajgarh, Sujangarh, and Sardarshahr. Out of these, 3 panchayat samities viz. Sardarshahr, Churu and Ratangarh were selected randomly. In order to get representative sample from selected panchayat samities, each one has been divided into four parts namely East, West, North, South. One village from each part was selected randomly. These 12 villages were selected to finally draw a sample of 300 respondents at the rate of 25 from each village. Female member of a farm family, who was actively involved in farm operations, was selected as a respondent. An interview schedule was developed by investigator in order to get complete and desired information as majority of respondents were illiterate. The interview schedule was checked by 3 subject matter specialist (SMS) then pre-tested with 5 non-sample rural women for clarity of questions. The data collection was done during the period of January to July. The qualitative data were quantified by using statistical measures i.e. frequency distribution, percentage, ranking, range, mean score and chi-square test. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Results of the present study reveals that majority of the respondents i.e % are cultivators whereas more than half of the respondent were noticed illiterate i.e % and 47.3 % belonged to lowers socio-economic status followed by middle and high SES with their percentage of 43.6 and 9 respectively. It is inferred by data that illiteracy and poorly are the main barrier in getting latest information. Here, extent of participation was classified under 4 categories i.e. Nil=0%, Low=1-33.3%, Medium= % and High= %. It is revealed from the table that extent of participation of women respondent in ploughing was noticed Nil. As regard the cleaning of the field 276 women respondents i.e. 92% were found in engaged with their high extent of participation it can be further analyzed from the result that ploughing land is considered to be one of the most strenuous task, require more muscle power and hence, harder to be informed by women. The Table 1 indicates that only 7 respondents participated in manual application with 2.3% while participation in fertilizers application was seen Nil. On account of limited area under irrigation, manure and fertilizer application is not in practice by majority of respondents. Further data shows that seed selection and cleaning activity was performed by majority of respondents i.e. 296 with 98.6% with high extent of participation. Whereas, the work distribution and extent of participation was expressed Nil in seed treatment and sowing. The possible reason of this may be the lack of technical knowledge regarding seed treatment. The Intercultural operations like weeding, hoeing, thinning and gap-filling done by the women s participants are well shown in Table 1. Women participation in Intercultural operations was noticed high for all operations, i.e. 267 respondents were participated followed by 252 respondents participated in hoeing, 249 respondents in engaged in thinning and 276 in gap-filling with their respective percentages of 89, 84, 83 and 89. Thus, it is well seen from the above Table that extent of participations of women respondents was found high in all intercultural operations. Intercultural operations are easy to perform and light task only it requires ample of time and patience. Study area is dominated by rain fed farming. Very few, only 24 respondents i.e. 8% have well at their field. Irrigation was considered as a joint activity with the help of male members in the family through electric motor pump. Extent of participations of women was noticed low in irrigation of crops. There is no major or even a minor irrigation project in the study area. Open / tube well are the only source of irrigation. Respondents explained mainly two reasons for very few members of irrigation through well, firstly the ground water level is very 72

3 Association of Age and SES of Rural Women with their participation in Farming Activities Table 1. Work distribution and extent of participation of women respondents in farming activities from land preparation to harvesting. S.N. Activities Respondents Extent of participation N % Nil Low Medium High 1. Land Preparation a. Ploughing b. Cleaning of Field, removing stubbles, weed plants, stones etc. 2. Manure Application Fertilizer Application Seed selection and Cleaning Seed Treatment Sowing Intercultural Operations a. Weeding b. Hoeing c. Thinning d. Gap-filling Irrigation through Well Pesticide Application Harvesting a. Crop Cutting b. Making Bundles of Harvested Crops N= 300 respondents S.N. Table 2. Association of age and SES of the respondents with their participation in farming activities. Farming Activities Over all Age SES Particip ation Younger Middle Older ᵡ2 Low Medium High ᵡ2 276 (92) 110(39.8) 96(34.7) 70(25.3) (51.4) 128(46.3) 6(2.1) * 1. Cleaning of field 2. Manure 7(2.3) 2(28.5) 4(57.1) 1(14.2) * 4(57.1) 2(28.5) 1(14.2) Application * 3. Seed Selection 296(98.6) 107(36.1) 96(32.4) 93(31.4) (47.9) 131(44.2) 23(7.7) 0.59 and Cleaning 4. Irrigation 24(8) 13(54.1) 11(45.8) 0(0) * 0(0) 7(29.1) 17(70.8) 121 * 5. Intercultural 259(86.3) 111(42.8) 94(36.2) 54(20.8) * 142(54.8) 114(44) 3(1.1) 23.5 * Operations 6. Pesticide 15(5) 9(60) 6(40) 0(0) 271 * 0(0) 6(40) 9(60) Application * 7. Harvesting 282(94) 111(39.3) 96(34) 75(26.5) (50.3) 131(46.4) 9(3.1) 12 * ᵡ2 value at 0.05 % level of significance, * shows that calculated values are greater than tabulated value at 0.05 level of significance of this particular activity low and secondly the quality of ground water is poor. In the study area, ph levels of water ranges from 7.5 to 9.5 and EC from 1 to 4.5. The problem is further aggravated as salt concentration in soil which is increases with irrigation, resulting as low productivity in irrigation land. In case of plant 73

4 Kavita Jain, Anant Kumar and Ummed Singh protection majors, only 15 participants i.e. 5% were engaged pesticide application activity with low extent of participation. There are mainly 3 reasons firstly draught is a frequent phenomenon in the study area, hence farmer don t want to purchase costly pesticides, secondly, productivity of land is also very low so they did not get potential returns, thirdly, lack of awareness regarding importance of pesticides. Therefore, 95% respondents did not apply any pesticide and follows ITK s (Indigenous Technical Knowledge) in farming. Further, it is evident from the Table1 that harvesting activity was predominantly performed by women. Results shows that 282 respondents i.e. 94% participated in cutting and as well as making bundles of harvested crop. Thus, extent their participation was noticed high in harvesting activity. Manual harvesting is a time consuming, monotonous and strenuous activity. Respondents have to sit on toe or bend waist for long hours continuously. ASSOCIATION OF AGE AND SOCIO- ECONOMIC STATUS OF THE RESPONDENTS WITH THEIR PARTICIPATION IN FARMING ACTIVITIES The significance of variables has been tested by Chi-square test, here, df= 2, ᵡ2 value at 0.05 level of significance=5.99, * shows that calculated values are greater than tabulated value at 0.05 level of significance of this particular activity. Hence, ᵡ2 is significant. In case of age, respondent were distributed were in 3 categories i.e. younger (18-30 years), middle (31-45 years) and older (46-60 years) age group. About table reveals that, ᵡ2 (calculated value) of 3 farming activities, namely cleaning of field, seed selection and harvesting are 5.69, 0.14 and 3.48 respectively, which are less than the tabulated value at 0.05 level of significance i.e So, ᵡ2 is not significant. Thus, it is calculated that the participation of respondents in above said three farming activities don t have association with age of respondents. Whereas, ᵡ2 value (calculated) of four agricultural tasks out of tasks, namely manure application, irrigation, intercultural operations, pesticides application, are 286.2, 254.7, 16.39, 271 respectively. These calculated values are greater than table value at 0.05 level of significance. Hence, ᵡ2 is significant, it is well analyzed that above said 4 farming activities have association with age of the respondents. In case of SES of the respondents, Table 2 indicates that 6 farming activities out of 7, namely cleaning of field, manure application, irrigation, intercultural operations, pesticides application and harvesting their calculated ᵡ2 value are 16.40, 286.1, 121, 23.5, and 12 respectively. These calculated ᵡ2 values are greater than tabulated value. So ᵡ2 is significant. Hence, it is concluded that participation of respondents in above said 6 farming activities have association with SES of the respondents. In case of seed selection the calculated ᵡ2 value is 0.59 which is less than tabulated value. So, ᵡ2 is not significant. Thus, the SES of the respondents doesn t have association with their participation in seed selection. SES was measured in 3 categories viz. low, medium and high. Although, high SES respondents participated very poorly for all the farming activities but a little better they participated for seed selection. In medium SES, participation was little different, it was noticed maximum for seed selection and harvesting i.e and 46.4 % respectively. Lowest participation was seen for manure application i.e. 2 (28.5). A look at the above table shows that the respondents of low SES participated to their maximum i.e. 142 for 4 farming activities out of the 7 farming activities viz. cleaning of field, seed selection, Intercultural practices and harvesting with their respective percentages 51.4, 47.9, 54.8 and It is well analyzed from the table that the farming activities like seed selection was the item of maximum participation whereas, two farming activities i.e. manure and pesticide application were the item of least participation in all the age groups as well as all SES categories. CONCLUSION It can be concluded that extent of participation of rural women was noticed high i.e. 74

5 Association of Age and SES of Rural Women with their participation in Farming Activities more than 80 % in 4 activities i.e. cleaning of field, seed selection and cleaning, intercultural operations and harvesting. It is analyzed by results that women s participation was negligible in those farming activities in which technical knowledge or more strength is required. More than of the half of the respondents were noticed illiterate i.e % and 47.3 % belonged to lower socio-economic status. Still in 21 st century, which is age of science and technology, they are not following improved farming practices. This might be reason of their low socio-economic status (SES) and low productivity of land. Thus, to bring the rural women into the fold of economic development, there is a great need to give emphasis on literacy programme, proper diffusion of latest technical know-how and identify location specific profitable techniques and train them to increase their efficiency and improve productivity of land. Government of Rajasthan should take need for rain water harvesting, connecting canals, arranging inputs for farming at local level on cheaper cost with subsidy and alternative means for employment should be generated. REFERENCES Bansal, V. and Meena S. C. (2007) Important role of women in agriculture. Haldhar Times, Vol. 3 (1), pp-20. District Statistical Guideline (2008) Published by directorate economics and statistics, Jaipur, Rajsthan. Jhamtani, A. and Singh, P. (2005) Intercultural dialogue for empowerment of farm women in agriculture. Intensive Agriculture, 43 (9-10) 3. Kanwar,P. (2003) Drudgery perceived by gender in Hill Farming. Indian Journal of Extension Education, 39 (3-4), Kumar, P.S. and Singh, S. (2002) Role of women in agriculture. Agriculture Extension Review, 14 (5) Kumari, A. and Singh, M. (2005) Farm activities and women participation. National Seminar by ISEE, IARI, New Delhi. Mahindra, R. and Kaur, N. (2003) Extent of awareness of farm women regarding pesticide residues in cereals. Agriculture Extension Review, Vol. 15 (4) pp-16. Meena, S. C. and Bansal, V. (2007) Women in Agriculture. Unnet Krishi, Vol. 16, pp-8. Ray, G. L. and Mondal, S. (2004) Research methods in social sciences and extension education. Published by Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi. Sharma, O. P. (2001) Quality of underground water used for irrigation and its impact on soil properties in district Churu of Rajsthan. PG diploma thesis IIEE, New Delhi. Manuscript received on Jan. 6, 2016, Accepted for publication on March 8,

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