CONSTRAINTS FACED BY FARM WOMEN IN AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS AND ALSO IN DECISION MAKING AND SEEK THEIR SUGGESTIONS FOR BETTER PARTICIPATION

Abstract

India is a country of great tradition, where social customs and norms exert a firm grip over the 
behavioral patterns of individuals. Women constitute one of the most important and dynamic but 
deprived and long neglected sections of the Indian society. For the present study Prayagraj 
district is selected by purposive sampling because the participation of women in agriculture is 
comparatively more than the other districts of Uttar Pradesh. There are 20 blocks in the selected 
district out of that, Kaudihaar block is selected by purposive sampling because maximum 
numbers of women are engaged in agriculture. One hundred twenty farmers were selected from 8 
villages. Data were collected by using pre-tested schedule and analyzed using appropriate 
statistical tools. Lacks of family support, lack of knowledge, dominance of male members in the 
family are the constraints faced by farm women. Farm women faced major constraints in 
decision making process about various agriculture related activities were: social/cultural norms 
and lack of self confidence in decision. Empowerment of women in developing countries like 
India will lead the nation to a breaking issue of humanist thinking for globalization. The major 
suggestions offered by farm women to overcome the constraints were more technical guidance 
regarding scientific farming should be given to farm women and training should be imparted at 
village level.