PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE IN RANGIA AND KAMALPUR BLOCK OF KAMRUP DISTRICT OF ASSAM- AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

1. INTRODUCTION

Agriculture is the vertical backbone of our country and most of the people of India earn its livelihood from agriculture. In the field of Indian agriculture, women are actively involved, and they have played and continue to play a vital and significant role. They are actively involved in agriculture and allied field including crop production, livestock production, plantation, animal husbandry, lagging, fishery, food security, horticulture, sericulture etc. In the agricultural sector women are the crucial labourers. Besides carry out traditional work and raising children, women are expected to maintain the homestead, assist in agriculture and other allied activities. In truth, women play a vital role in agricultural development from preparing the land, selecting seeds, transplanting the seedlings, applying manure or fertilizer, weeding, and then harvesting, winnowing and threshing, marketing and processing. Predominantly in Assam, women are of vital importance to rural economy and the agricultural sector. Their role and contribution are different in all the district of Assam. Kamrup District is one of the agricultural developed one, falls in the lower Brahmaputra Valley zone. This district is situated between 25.46º and 26.49º North Latitude and 90.48º and 91.50º East Longitude. Considering the engagement of women in agricultural activities and in the decision-making process as a study on participation of women is carried out in Kamrup district with the objectives of exploring the involvement of women in different agricultural activities and examining the contribution of female workers to total household income.

2. METHODOLOGY

For the purpose of this study, Kamrup District of Assam is selected and from this district, two community developments block i.e., Rangia and Kamalpur are selected purposively. From each of the blocks, three villages are selected randomly. Again, 20 households are selected from each village. It means total 120 numbers of ultimate sample respondents are selected from the 6 selected villages. On the basis of the size of land holding, the selected samples are further stratified into three groups- small (< 2 bigha), medium (2-4 bigha) and large (> 4 bigha). Tabular analysis is done to analyse the data. The data and information are collected from both primary and secondary sources. The primary data for the study are collected with a structured questionnaire and through personal interview with the respondents. Secondary data are collected from various central and state govt. publications, census of India report, books, journals, websites etc.

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

3.1. Involvement of women in different farm activities according to age

The involvement of women according to age has been presented in Table 1. The tables revealed that out of 72 numbers of farm women under the age group of below 18 years, 29.17 percent women are engaged in agricultural sector, 13.89 percent engaged in poultry sector. No farm women under this age group are engaged in fishery, sericulture, handloom and as wage paid labourers. In all other age groups, farm women are engaged in all the agricultural farm activities. Under the age group of 18-30 years, highest percentage (69.70%) of farm women are engaged in agriculture sector followed by poultry (50.76%) and handloom sector (62.88%). Only 34.09 and 14.39 percent farm women are engaged in fishery and sericulture. Similar trend is observed in other age groups also. It is observed from the table that highest percentage of farm women are engaged in agriculture sector (75.70%) followed by poultry (71.03%), fishery (56.07%) and handloom (66.36%) under the age group of 30-60 years. It is observed that only a few farm women are engaged in different farm activities under the age group of above 60 years.

Table 1

Table 1 No. of Farm Women Involved in Different Farm Activities According to Age

Age groups

Agriculture

Poultry

Fishery

Sericulture

Handloom

Wage paid laborer

Total no. of farm women

Below 18 years

(29.17)

(13.89)

(0.00)

(100.00)

18-30 years

(69.70)

(50.76)

(34.09)

(14.39)

(62.88)

(17.42)

132

(100.00)

30-60 years

(75.70)

(71.03)

(56.07)

(20.56)

(66.36)

(41.12)

107

(100.00)

Above 60 years

(16.38)

(7.69)

(0.00)

(3.08)

(0.00)

(100.00)

Total

204

(54.26)

158

(42.02)

105

(27.93)

(11.44)

154

(40.96)

(17.82)

376

(100.00)

* Figures in the brackets indicate percentage to the total

3.2. THE ACTIVITIES WHICH ARE PERFORMED BY THE FARM WOMEN IN THE ACTIVITIES OF CROP CULTIVATION

The different activities of crop cultivation, where the farm women are involved is explained in the following Table 2. From the following table it has been seen that except manuring, irrigation and preparation for market, farm women are involved in all other activities of crop cultivation. It is observed from the table that on an average, 11.92 percent of farm women are involved in the preparation of soil against the 34.24 percent men. In case of uprooting and weeding, more farm women are engaged 22.17 and 20.81 percent respectively than men (14.63 and 14.02 percent). Some of the activities like transplanting, harvesting, and threshing are performed by more men (25.79%) than women (20.51%). In storing, more farm women (17.80%) are involved than men (5.58%).

Table 2

Table 2 Activities Which Are Performed by Farm Women in the Crop Cultivation

Activities of crop cultivation

Small

Medium

Large

Total

Female

Male

Female

Male

Female

Male

Female

Male

Preparation of

Soil

(13.06)

106

(26.63)

(9.66)

110

(53.14)

(12.07)

(18.97)

(11.92)

227

(34.24)

Sowing

(12.31)

(16.58)

(21.74)

(27.54)

(13.79)

(6.90)

102

(15.38)

127

(19.16)

Uprooting

(18.59)

(10.80)

(29.47)

(24.15)

(20.69)

(6.90)

147

(22.17)

(14.63)

Transplanting

(21.86)

101

(25.38)

(20.77)

(28.50)

(10.34)

(18.97)

136

(20.51)

171

(25.79)

Weeding

(17.34)

(10.30)

(28.01)

(23.67)

(18.97)

(5.17)

138

(20.81)

(14.02)

Manuring

(0.00)

(22.11)

(0.00)

(31.40)

(0.00)

(3.45)

(0.00)

155

(23.38)

Irrigation

(0.00)

(22.36)

(0.00)

(21.74)

(0.00)

(5.17)

(0.00)

137

(20.66)

Harvesting

(21.86)

101

(25.38)

(20.77)

(28.50)

(10.34)

(18.97)

136

(20.51)

171

(25.79)

Storing

(14.82)

(5.03)

(23.67)

(7.73)

(17.24)

(1.72)

118

(17.80)

(5.58)

Threshing

(21.86)

101

(25.38)

(20.77)

(28.50)

(10.34)

(18.97)

136

(20.51)

171

(25.79)

Preparing for Market

(0.00)

(22.86)

(0.00)

(33.82)

(0.00)

(12.07)

(0.00)

168

(25.34)

Total no. of farm women+ men

398

(100.00)

207

(100.00)

663

(100.00)

* Figure in the parentheses indicate percentage to the total.

3.3. IN THE FARM DECISION MAKING ACTIVITIES, THE EXTENT OF INVOLVEMENT OF FARM WOMEN

Women play a very significant and crucial role in agriculture, and they also involve as decision maker regarding various agricultural activities Chayal, K. (2013). The extent of farm women in farming decision making activities is explained in Table 3 Out of 120 respondents of our study, 35.83 percent farm women are engaged in the decision-making activities whereas 60.00 percent farm women are involved in the process of decision-making process in poultry sector, 21.67 percent are in fishery and 81.67 percent in handloom sector. In case of sericulture, all decisions are taken by the farm women only (40.83 percent).

Table 3

Table 3 Extent of Involvement of Women in Farming Decision Making Activities

Sector

Small

Medium

Large

Total

Female

Male

Female

Male

Female

Male

Female

Male

Agriculture

(30.56)

(47.22)

(43.59)

(69.23)

(44.44)

(66.67)

(35.83)

(55.83)

Poultry

(40.28)

(26.39)

(69.23)

(43.59)

(55.56)

(33.33)

(60.00)

(40.00)

Fishery

(13.89)

(25.00)

(35.90)

(56.41)

(22.22)

(44.44)

(21.67)

(36.67)

Sericulture

(27.78)

(0.00)

(58.97)

(0.00)

(66.67)

(0.00)

(40.83)

(0.00)

Handloom

(72.22)

(15.28)

(97.44)

(23.08)

(88.89)

(11.11)

(81.67)

(17.50)

Total no. of farm families

(100.00)

120

(100.00)

*Figure in the parentheses indicates percentage to the total.

3.4. CONTRIBUTION OF FARM WOMEN TO TOTAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME

Cultivation is the major source of income for most of the rural household. The female workers’ contribution in family income is very significant Baliyan and Kumar (2014). The total farm household income refers to income from both agriculture and other allied sector (poultry, fishery, sericulture, and handloom). The following table 3.4 shows an estimate of the total household income from agriculture and allied activities and the share of farm women to total income.

Table 4

Table 4 Contribution of Farm Women to Total Household Income
Farm Size	Per household income (Rs.)	Farm women’s share in income (Rs.)	Percentage share of farm women in income
Small (< 2 bigha)	38520	19832	51.48
Medium (2-4 bigha)	67632	17577	25.99
Large (> 4 bigha)	90952	18745	20.61
Source Survey

Female workers contribute significantly in household income on all farm sizes and their earnings are crucial for the small and landless households. Tuteja (2000). From the Table 4, it is seen that the contribution of farm women in all farm size is significant, but their proportionate contribution to total household income diminishes as the farm size increases.

4. CONCLUDING REMARK

From sunrise to sunset, females are busy in various household works, but still, they play an important role in household farming practices. From our study, we have seen that women are involved in various agricultural and allied activities and their earnings to total household income is very crucial. This has not only helped them to become self-sufficient but has also contributed significantly to the state economy. So, if we want to improve the economic condition of our country, we have to involve an increasing number of women in the farming sector of our country.

CONFLICT OF INTERESTS

None.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

None.

REFERENCES

Agarwal, Ritu (2007). “Women Farmers in China’s Commercial Agrarian Economy”, Economic and Political Weekly, 42 (42).

Christy, R. J. and Thirunavukkarasu, M. (2002). “Socio Economic Dimensions of Female Participation In Livestock Rearing: A Case Study in Tamil Nadu”, Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics.

Dutta, L.M. and Sharma, N. (1985). Contribution of Female Labour in Agriculture. A Case Study of Ranchi District Bihar. Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics. 40(3), 272-273.

Maithreyi, K. and Kanchi, A. (2008). “Women Farmers of India” National Book Trust.

Meenakshi and Singh, R. (1995). “Role of Women in Different Systems of Hill Farming: A Study of Himachal Pradesh”, Agricultural Economics Research Centre, Shimla.

Saikia, A. (1985). Status of Female Agricultural Labourers in Assam. Kurukshetra, 30(6), 11-13.

Tuteja, U. (1997). “Female Employment in Agriculture in Haryana”, Agricultural Economics Research Centre, University of Delhi, Delhi.

Tuteja, U. (2000). “Contribution of Female Agricultural Workers in Haryana”, Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics”, 55(2).

Verma, J.C. (1978). Women in rural economy. Kurukshetra. 26(10), 7-8.

This work is licensed under a: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

		ABSTRACT
		Women play a significant role in agriculture and allied operations. Besides looking after the family and performing all shorts of household activities, women are actively busy from dawn to dusk in various agricultural operations. A few studies have been made on this regard in India as well as in the state basically in Assam. In order to carry out the study, a district of Assam, named Kamrup is selected as the sample district because of the availability of female agricultural labourer. Keeping in view these facts, the present study has been designed to explore the extent of female participation in agriculture and their contribution to total household income.
Received 22 September 2022 Accepted 23 October 2022 Published 09 November 2022 Corresponding Author Pallavi Sarma, pallavisarma5@gmail.com DOI10.29121/granthaalayah.v10.i10.2022.4790 Funding: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. Copyright: © 2022 The Author(s). This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. With the license CC-BY, authors retain the copyright, allowing anyone to download, reuse, re-print, modify, distribute, and/or copy their contribution. The work must be properly attributed to its author.
		Keywords: Agricultural Operations, Female Agricultural Labourers, Total Household Income