PARTICIPATION OF RURAL WOMEN IN HOMESTEAD AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was Lo determine the extent of participation of the rural women in homestead agricultural activities in Tentulia upazila under Panchagarh district and to explore the relationships between the selected characteristics of the rural women and their participation in homestead agricultural activities. The study was conducted in two villages of Shalbahan union namely, Basantozot and Lohakhachi. Data were collected from J 00 rural women by using a pre-tested interview schedule during the period from September 20 to October 20, 2007. Appropriate scales were developed to measure the variables of the study. Correlation(s) Lest was used Lo ascertain the relationships between the concerned independent variables and dependent variable of the study. Findings revealed that highest proportion (73 percent) of the rural women had medium participation in homestead agricultural activities compared to 20 and 7 percent having low participation and high participation respectively. Correlation analysis indicated that seven, out of nine independent variables namely, farm size, family income, cosmopoliteness, extension contact, agricultural training, knowledge on homestead agricultural activities and attitude towards homestead agriculture of the rural women had significant positive relationship with their participation in homestead agricultural activities. Other two variables namely, age and education of the rural women had no significant relationship with their participation in homestead agricultural activities. On the basis of descending order of the Problem Confrontation Index (PCI), 'lack of necessary agricultural land' ranked first followed by 'lack of sufficient fe11ilizers', 'lack of necessary knowledge', 'lack of necessary capital', 'lack of quality seeds', 'lack of extension workers', 'lack of sufficient insecticides', 'lack of marketing opportunities', and 'lack of communication facilities'. Lack of cooperation of male ranked last.