Women play a vital and significant role in agriculture, particularly in developing countries where they make up a large percentage of the agricultural labour force. They are actively involving in all range of agricultural works including pre-harvesting, and post-harvesting activities. But it is unfortunate that they remain invisible workers. Therefore, their participation as decision- makers regarding these works is questionable. Hence the study was concentrated to analyse the role of farm women in decision-making in rice-based farming system of North Bihar. To analyse their decision making process, the study was conducted in Samastipur district of North Bihar. For the purpose of the study out of 20 blocks two rice growing blocks were selected randomly. Two villages were selected from each block randomly making a sample of four villages. The sample of forty farm families from each of the selected villages were taken by proportionate stratified random sampling technique on the basis of land holding possessed by them. Therefore, the total sample consisted of 160 respondents. Results indicated that men took independent decisions was 54.97 percent and women took independent decisions was 18.71 percent of all farm and money related decisions. Joint decisions were taken 26.86% of all farm and money related decisions. This revealed that men dominated women in all farm and money related decisions.
Women indeed play a crucial role in agriculture and allied fields, particularly in rural economies around the world. Their contributions span various aspects, typically including crop production, livestock rearing, food processing and even value chain activities like marketing and trading agricultural products. It is estimated that women are responsible for 70 % of actual farm work and constitute up to 60 % of the farming population (Choudhary and Singh2003). Despite women’s critical contribution to the family income through productive activities, no recognition is given to them as an important contributor and their contribution is not recorded. They are still remained unrecognized workers. Over the years women cultivators are typically and wrongly characterized as economically inactive and women cultivator play only a supportive role in agriculture as farmers’ wives (Samanta 1994). Women must given full chance to involve in decision making as they are actively engaged in household and farm activities. Women’s active participation in decision making is considered essential for rapid economic development of the country as well as world. In this back drop, a study has been undertaken to find out involvement of farm women in decision making process in rice-based farming system.
Objective
To study the involvement of farm women in decision making process in rice-based farming system