INVOLVEMENT OF RURAL WOMEN IN HOMESTEAD VEGETABLE CULTIVATION IN A SELECTED AREA OF BADARGANJ UP AZILA UNDER RANGPUR DISTRICT

Abstract

The focus of the study was the involvement of rural women in homestead vegetable cultivation in Badarganj upazila of Rangpur district. The objective of the study were to (i) assess the extent of involvement of rural women in homestead vegetable cultivation, (ii) explore the relationship between the selected characteristics of the rural women and their involvement in homestead vegetable cultivation, (iii)assess the problems faced by the rural women to undertake homestead vegetable cultivation .. Data were collected by using interview schedule during 251h January to 25111 February 2006. Majority (66%) of the respondent had medium involvement with homestead winter vegetable production as compared to 29% percent having low and 5 percent high involvement. The highest proportion (68%) of the respondents had medium involvement in homestead summer vegetable production as compared to 28 percent low and 4 percent had high involvement. The majority (67%) of the respondents had medium involvement with overall homestead vegetable production as compared to 24 percent low and 9 percent high involvement. Correlation analysis indicated that among the respondents selected characteristics, family size was no relation with each of their winter, summer and overall homestead vegetable cultivation. Farm size had no relationship with winter vegetable cultivation but had positive relationship with summer and overall vegetable production. Age, education, knowledge on homestead vegetable cultivation, annual family income, farm size and communication exposure were positively related with each of their winter, summer and overall homestead vegetable cultivation. Among the selected 12 problems, the top most three problems according to rank order were "lack of quality seeds and seedlings", "do not get due market price" and "disease and insect infestation".