ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF WOMEN AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS IN GRAPES FARMING IN COIMBATORE DISTRICT
Journal Title: International Journal of Research in Social Sciences - Year 2017, Vol 7, Issue 10
Abstract
Research in agriculture conducted in India and other developing and under developed countries all point to the conclusion that women contribute far more too agricultural production than has generally been acknowledged. Recognition of their crucial role in agriculture should not obscure the fact that farm women continue to be concerned with their primary functions as wives, mothers and homemakers. Despite their importance to agricultural production, women face severe handicaps. They are in fact, the largest group of landless labourers with little real security in case of break-up of the family owing to death or divorce; inheritance laws and customs discriminate against them land reform and settlement programmes usually give sole title and hence the security needed for obtaining production credits to the husband. Agricultural development programmes are usually planned by men and aimed at men. Mechanization, for example alleviates the burden of tasks that are traditionally men’s responsibility leaving women’s burdens unrelieved or even increased. The excess burden of work on women (“the double day” of the farm work plus house work) also acts as a stimulus to have many children so that they can help out with chores from an early age. Extension workers almost exclusively aim their advice at men’s activities and crops. In some regions, this bias may depress production of subsistence food crops (often women’s crops) in favour of increased production of cash crops (often men’s crops) in favour of increased production of cash crops. Estimates of the time contribution of women to agricultural activities ranges from about 30 percent in The Gambia to 60-80 percent in different parts of Cameroon. In Asia, estimates range from 32 percent in India to over 50 percent in China. China and India, women represented a share of 21 percent and 24 percent. But the agricultural sector in many developing countries is underperforming, in part because women, who represent a crucial resource in agriculture and the rural economy through their roles as farmers, labourers and entrepreneurs, almost everywhere, face more severe constraints than men in access to productive resources. Efforts by national governments and the international community to achieve their goals for agricultural development, economic growth and food security will be strengthened and accelerated if they build on the contributions that women make and take steps to alleviate these constraints. Women make essential contributions to the agricultural and rural economies in all developing countries. Their roles vary considerably between and within regions and are changing rapidly in many parts of the world, where economic and social forces are transforming the agricultural sector. Rural women often manage complex households and pursue multiple livelihood strategies. Their activities typically include producing agricultural crops, tending animals, processing and preparing food, working for wages in agricultural or other rural enterprises, collecting fuel and water, engaging in trade and marketing, caring for family members and maintaining their homes. It may not be out of place to mention here that considering their dual responsibilities within and outside the home, it would be in the fitness of things that more and more in the village training is organized for rural farm women to suit their convenience with due realization that institutional training is important in its own place. In order that farm women get a fair deal at the hands of change agents, one of the remedial measures that needs to be undertaken is to induct a sizeable number of well-trained women personnel in training and extension programmes of agricultural development agencies at all levels and more so at the grass-root level. The main aim of this paper is to analyse the general characteristics of women labourers, to assess the problems faced by the women labourers and to empirically analyse the economic impact of employment of women in Coimbatore district. The hypotheses tested were that there wasn’t any significant difference in the income, expenditure and the impact on the income earned.
Authors and Affiliations
Dr S Parimalam And Pramila J Santhosam
Keywords
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