INVOLVEMENT OF RURAL WOMEN IN AGRIBUSINESS

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the extent of involvement of rural women in agribusiness. Attempts were also made to determine eight selected characteristics of the rural women and their relationship with involvement in agribusiness. Data were collected by interviewing 120 randomly selected women of Kazipur Upazila of Sirajganj District during 25 February, 2008 to 31st March, 2008. Appropriate scales were developed in order to measure the variables. Co­ efficient of correlation was used to ascertain the relationship between the concerned dependent & independent variables. Majority (68.4%) of the rural women had low involvement compared to 18.3% very low and 13.3% medium involvement in agribusiness. Among the selected characteristics of the rural women, farm size, cosmopoliteness, extension contact and innovativeness had significant and positive relationships with their involvement in agribusiness. On the other hand, age, education, annual family income and role of decision making had insignificant and positive relationships with their involvement in agribusiness. On the basis of Problem Faced Index, "Lack of freedom of right" ranked first followed by "Lack of women empowerment" and "Lack of freedom of speech" among the problems faced by the rural women in agribusiness.