CHAPTER- FIVE
ROLE OF WOMEN IN RURAL AGRICULTURE, ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES, ORGANIZATION AND EMPOWERMENT
5.1 Introduction
Women constitute the backbone of the rural food system in developing country; cultivating food crops by themselves or together with men. They also work on cash crops with their together with men. They also work on cash crops with their husbands. They are the caretakers of domestic animals. Women are key elements in the food chain; disproportionately involved in food production-planting, processing, preserving and preparing food (Bondestam and Bergstrom, 1980; Dauber and Cain, 1981).Women in addition to their substantial agricultural production work also fill in multiple other roles - mothers, housekeepers, wage labourers, agricultural processors, market women and entrepreneurs. In this multidimensional context, it is important to defme agricul-tural production which is the total output of the farm household.
Kathleen Cloud in "Women's Productivity in Agricultural Systems" (1991), has categorized production into:
Ø Non-wage agricultural production refers to output of erop and livestock intended for home consumption or market sale;
Ø Household production encompasses goods and services pro-duced within the household for home consumption or market sale;
Ø Human capital production refers to childbearing, childcare and the transmission of skills and knowledge;
Ø Self-employment in the informal market sector includes off-farm production activities such as marketing and personal services;
Ø Wage labor refers to paid employment.
5.2 Women in agriculture
The division of agricultural labour with women doing subsistence faYming and men engaged in commercial farming is conducive to a large family. Women and children are responsible for the domestic farming - frequently on marginal land with little or no assistance from mechanization, training, credit, improved seeds, pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers, irrigation schemes and other means to increase productivity. The tools necessary for increasing agricultural production are frequently harnessed tjy men, leaving women reliant on physical labour. Membership to agricultural cooperatives and associations are also often exclusively male organizations.
Agricultural extension work also suffers from gender bias (Boserup, 1990; Jacobson, 1992). Despite the fact that the majority of African farmers are women, the majority of agricultural extension workers are men and trained to work with men. A 1981 survey in sub-Saharan Africa found only 3 per cent of all extension workers to be women and all were paid less than their male colleagues (cited in Jacobson, 1992)
The absence of ownership of land by women is a principal barrier to their lack of capital. In the patrilineal cultures of South Asia, much of sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, women gain access to land only through their husbands and sons. In Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, at least seventy per cent of the labour force is engaged in food production - yet fewer than 10 per cent of women farmers in India, Nepal and Thailand own land (Rocheleau, 1988). Women's lack of access to land rights as a collateral is a major ob-stacle in their obtaining loans; land being the major rural resource base.
Women's role in providing food security is only possible by, lipping women with the means to increase production but not at the expense of themselves. For women, there is no need for more work. However, there is an urgent need for less and more efficiënt means of existing work. It is no coincidence that worldwide “rural areas of the low-income food-deficit countries account for 3.2 billion people who face the lack of appropriate preventive and reproductive health care and therefore suffer the highest rates of maternal and child mortality and low life expectancy” (Terra Viva, 1994).
However, increased food production will not ensure increased consumption without an increase in purchasing power - an increase in real income. For women in low-income situations and already marginalized, a way out of dependency and a means of self-help is collateral-free credit which may be used to generale income, increase purchasing power and improve one's economie situation.
Bangladesh is agricultural country. Agriculture is the most fundamental form of human activity. Agriculture land is thus the most basic of the world’s vast and varied resources and from it human masses resource and from it human masses are fed, clothed and sheltered.
In view of the critical role of women in the agriculture and allied sectors, as procurer concentrated efforts will be made to en sure that benefits of training, extension and various programmes will reach them in proportion of their numbers. The programmes for training women are soil conservations. Social forestry dairy development and other occupations allied to agriculture like horticulture, livestock including small animal husbandry, poultry, fisheries etc. will be expanded to benefit women worker it the agriculture sector.
5.3 Women in rurual economiy
There are productive or economie activities and reproductive or human resources maintenance activities for women and men. How-ever, men hold primarily a single role - that of the economie provider, which is nevertheless undergoing change. Women combine productive and reproductive roles. Women's productive role includes all tasks which contribute to the income and economie ad-vancement of the household and community, e.g. erop and livestock production, handicrafts production, marketing and wage employ-ment. Reproductive (human resources maintenance) activities are those carried out to reproduce and care for the household and community; including fuel and water collection, food preparation, child care, education, health care and home maintenance. These activities which are often viewed as non-economie, generally carry no mone-tary compensation and are usually excluded from the national income accounts (European Commission, 1993).
The life-sustaining role of women has also been noted by (Sen and Grown, 1987). They state that, "in every society - particularly in the ravaged economies of the South - women's daily invisible efforts to feed, clothe and nurture their families are the actions that sustain their communities. This reality 'social reproduction', derives from Ihe gender-based division of labour, which in turn sterns from the assumption that reproductive responsibilities constitute a natural extension of female biology."
In most rural societies, it is also extremely difficult to distinguish herween domestic, household work and productive work. Many domestic activities are both for household consumption as well as lor production purposes. Predominantly women's activities which are weeding, harvesting, collecting fuelwood and animal fodder have a direct effect on agriculture and this agricultural output may bc used at home or sold on the market.
5.4 Women's participation in various sector in Bangladesh
In economie development women have played a great role to acceleration the economy of Bangladesh.
Ø They are engaged in various sectors in Bangladesh.
Ø Agricultural sector
Ø Industrial sector
Ø Small cottage industry
Ø Garments and hossiary
Ø Journalist
Ø Administration and service sector
Ø In parliament
Ø Rural micro-credit system
Ø Defense
Ø Household work
Fig 5.1 Economie activities of women in Bangladesh with various sectors.
Source: World development indicator-2004,
Women participation in various industries are innumerable.
Table 5. 1 Position of small labour with various sectors of Bangladesh.
| Activities | Percentage |
| Food processing | 11.6 |
| Jute / cloth / leather | 21.5 |
| Readymade garments | 60.3 |
| Tea labour | 75.5 |
| Paper/ publish | 24.0 |
| Chemical petroleum | 7.0 |
| Fabricated metal | 2.0 |
| Others | 6.0 |
Source: Dr-Protima Pal Majumder BIDS. (Prothom Alo-2006-5 Sep)
In administration and service sector women percentage is 10% gazated and 15% non gazated officers in Bangladesh. There are about 7.1% of women are engaged in public sectors of Bangladesh. There are about 30 seat are restricted in paliament and its percentage is 7.2%, (2001). The election of 1991, 1996 and 2001 brought two women in to the lime light (both leader of the govt. and opposition are women).
5.5 Category of women participation in rural agriculture and economy in study area.
Women in rural are engaged with various economic activities. Many times, they earn their livelihood by these activities. Most of their work are agriculture related such as agricultural labior and in other they are labor of various small and cottage industres.
5.5.1 Involvement of respondent with economie activities in the study area
In study area women are engaged with various economic activities. But it should be increased.
Fig 5.2 : Involvement with economie activities
Source: Field survey-2008
It is found that about 59% are engaged in various rural economy in the study area and 41% are not engaged.
5.5.2 Types of economie activities in study area
There are various types of economie activities
Table 5.2 Types of economie activities
| Types | Frequency | Percentage |
| Crop farming | 18 | 13 |
| Animal Bearing | 31 | 22.14 |
| Horticulture | 6 | 5 |
| Gardening | 4 | 3 |
| Others | 11 | 8 |
| Not applicable | 70 | 50 |
| | 140 | 100 |
Source: Field survey2010
It is observed that women engaged themselves above these activities, from which animal bearing (22.14%), erop farming (13%) are most of women activities and 50% of women are not engaged with it. This extimatin is nearly same as the estimation with (Boserup, 1990; Jacoboson 1992), reerch on women economic activities.
5.5.3 The way of benefit
From these activities women are benefited through many ways such as through erop s, through money etc.
Fig. 5.3 The way of Benifit
Source: Field survey-2010
They are benefited 30% through money and 70% through crops. 50% are not benefited because they are not connected with any economie activities.
5.6 Women Micro-Credit And Related Training Activities
5.6.1 Microfinance in Bangladesh at a glance
More than a thousand microfmance institutisns are working in Bangladesh of which 503 institutions have been iicensed by Microcredit Regulatory Authority. Microfinance institutions are offering various savings, credit and insurance services to their clienfs. Savings products indude regular - savings, -voluntary savings and term savings; while the credit products indude rural microcredit, urban microcredit, miao enterprise credit, hard core poor credit, seasonal credit etc. The number of benefidaries of the sector would be around 30 milJion and amount of savings and credit would be (including Grameen Bank) around US$ 1.67 billion and US$ 2.86 billion respectively. Average savings and credit per dient is around US$ 22.46 and US$ 89 respectively. The amount of savings and credit of this sector are inaeasing by around 30% in every year. However, Grameen Bank and 3 large NGO-MFIs hold around 80% of the total market share. The following tables and graphs will provide a vivid picture of microfinance activities of ih^NGO-MFIs in Bangladesh.
5.6.2 Micro credit and women
Empowerment
Microcedit has played a significnt posittive role in empowering rural women during the past two decdes. The direct effect of microcredit programme on women’s postition in the community has been through teh expansion of women's mobility in the public spheres like bank, Thana headquarters, hospitals etc. Besides these, the women credit borrowers can take part in the detision making process which is a strong indicator of empowerment. When women generate and control their own income, women gain a level of power so, they can make decisions independently and command more respect.
5.6.3 Involvement with any NGO/Govt. Institution of respondent.
There are many govt. institution and NGO's in where women are engaged in many ways. Some one in bank, some one in any NGO and some other govt. institution for various reason.
Tabel 5.3 Involvement with any NGO/Govt. institution
| Opinion of Respondent | Frequency | Percentage |
| Yes | 78 | 55.71 |
| No | 62 | 44.23 |
Source: Field survey-2010
There are 55.71% women are engaged in these type of institutions. Throught getting loanor credit. Thraining and other related inssues. Which one now very common feature in our raual Bangladesh also.
5.6.4 Types/Name of institution/organization
Rural wornen's are engaged with various NGO (govt. or non-govt), local sammattee, bank etc, for various reason, such as savings, credit.
Fig. 5.4 Types/Name of institution
Source: Field survey-2010
It is found that, there are 31.42% are in various NGO's, 16.42% are in various govt. organization. 4.28% in bank and 1.42% in local sammittee.
5.6.5 Involvemation with any credit programme of the respondent
Most of the women are engaged with credit programme in study area.
Table 5.4 Involvemation with any credit programme of the respondent
| Opinion of respondent | Frequency | Percentage |
| Yes | 73 | 52.14 |
| No | 67 | 47.85 |
Source: Field survey-2010
There are various purposes are held in such types of organization. From thern, most important is credit programme. In these programme 52.14% are engaged here.
5.6.6 Types of credit
The women who are angaged with credit programme in various organization are of various types.
Table 5.5 Types of credit
| Types | Frequency | Percentage |
| Govt. loan | - | - |
| Micro-credit loan | 46 | 32.85 |
| Grammen Bank loan | 22 | 15.71 |
| Plant loan | 1 | 0.71 |
| Bank loan | 3 | 2.14 |
| Monthly based Local Sammittee | 68 | 48.57 |
| | 140 | 100 |
Source: Field survey-2010
It is found taht the monthly based local sammittee are pronounced here 48.57% and also micro-credit loan 32.85% here.
5.6.7 The activities through these loan:
Various activities mainly income generating activities are done by women through these loan. They use the loan to be developed their life and fate also.
Fig. 5.5 The activities through these loan
Source: Fieldwork-2010
5.6.8 Socio-Economic development after getting loan
Table: 5.6 Socio-Economic development after getting loan
| Opinion of respondent | Frequency | Percentage |
| Yes | 54 | 38.57 |
| No | 86 | 61.42 |
It is Observed that women who were getting loan from various institutions NGO’S Bank about 38.57% are benifited. They can maximize their benefits ley maxmize and proper use of these loan. Tehy lnsure fheir soico-economi development throught trainning on their activities. Most of the trainning are arranged in these institution after giving loan for maximize their economic activities and benifits. But 61.42% are hot develop their status throug loan, they get for various hatural and personal reason.
5.7 Empowerment
According to carolin moser, “The capacity of women to increase their own self reliance and internal strength. This is identify as the right to determine choises in life and to influence the direction of change, through the ability to gain control over crucial material and non-material resources”
According to, seen of grown “Women’s empowerment is the transformation of the structures of subordination, including changes in the law, civil codes, property inheritance rights, Control over women’s bodies and labour and the social legal institution that endorse male control.
Table 5.7 Knowledge of respondent about women right in our society
| Opinion of respondent | Frequency | Percentage |
| Yes | 91 | 65 |
| No | 49 | 35 |
Source: Field survey-2010
It is found that about 65% are keep idea about women right in society. It is a positive change in women in a rural society.
5.7.1 Women empowerment to ensure women's participation in rural development
Empowerment of women is all-around development of women. So, women development is very important for rural development. In this case women empowerment in necessary to ensure women's participation in rural development. Maximum of them are agreed about it.
Table 5.8 Women empowerment to ensure women's participation in rural development
| Opinion of respondent | Frequency | Percentage |
| Yes | 105 | 75 |
| No | 35 | 25 |
Source: Field survey-2010
Shamsul (2008), who finds that women’s participation in rual development process help them to improve their status and to maximize thir empowerment in rural family and society, which is same with my observation taht about 75%, women now think that their partiipation is far need to maximize their empowrment.
5.7.2 Obstacles of women empowerment in rural Bangladesh
There are various obstacles can be observed of women empowerment in rural society of Bangladesh. Some are social, some are socio-cultural, some are religieus problems.
Table 5.9 Obstacles of women empowerment in rural Bangladesh
| Obstacles | Frequency | Percentage |
| Social problem | 17 | 12.14 |
| Lack of higher education | 6 | 4.29 |
| Ignorance | 16 | 11.43 |
| Economie problem | 12 | 8.57 |
| Conservative mentality | 11 | 7.86 |
| Religieus problem | 17 | 12.14 |
| Security | 16 | 11.43 |
| Lack of importance | 10 | 25 |
| No comments | 35 | 7.14 |
| Total | 140 | |
Source: Field survey-2010
In the study area, numerous problem are arise in the way of women empowerment. Form which social and religious barrier are most common in the area as well as in our rural Bangladesh
5.7.3 Respondent opinion to accelerate women empowerment in Bangladesh.
In Kalidha union local govt. Union parishad and national govt. take some necessary steps to accelerate women empowerment. But these one not enough. There are so many fields for development in this union and also Bangladesh. The respondents think that if unions can be developed then hole Bangladesh can be development their women power.
Most of them give their opinion on getting education and increasing education facilities like food for education full free studentship for female student in primary and high school level , giving education loan, scholarship for poor meritorious female students.
Many of them are interested about self employment. They want proper capital to start any business on activities. They want interest free and easy loan service through govt. One group give their opining to increase post various formal and informal sector. Various facilities should be ensure from this sector for women. Discrimination of giving monthly wages of women labour should be removed from our society.
5.8 Conclusion
Women are primary food provder for rural area. They directly engaged with rural agriculture and related economic activities. But theeir participation in service and commercial sector are not so markable in rural BD and thus in study area also. In BD, women are engaged in various garments (60.3%), as a tea labour (75.5%) , paper and leather industriy are 24% and 21.5% respectively. But in study area women’s economic activities are limited and mainly horticulture animal bearing etc. are helth
Women are engaged with various NGO’s and innstitution through getting loan, from which monthly based local sammittee and microcedit loan gainer are 48.57% and 32.85% respectively. They have done various economic activities though this loan. In these way women empowerment can be established and thats why their participation should be ensured. Although there are so many obsotacles on the way of empowerment, ti is important to empowerd them for the well being of society.
mane ki????
উত্তরমুছুন