Comparison of Extent of Participation of Urban, Rural and Tribal Farmwomen in Farming Activities

Farm women constitute so significant part of working women population in our country that it necessitates a fuller understanding of their status and role not only as they now are but as they may be in future. They participate in most of the agricultural operations. The study was carried out from two agro – climatic zones of Maharashtra. Nanded district was selected from Central Maharashtra Plateau zone and Nagpur district was selected from Central Vidarbha zone. This research consist sample of 409 farm women from urban, rural and tribal areas. The respondents were interviewed personally. In the present investigation, extent of participation of urban, rural and tribal farmwomen in farming activities was compared. Extent of participation was measured as whether the activity was completely performed by the respondent or partially. The results showed that urban women’s complete participation was noticed in the activities weeding, harvesting and land preparation while they were partially involved in engagement of labour and in money matters. Rural women’s complete involvement was observed in weeding, land preparation and manure & fertilizer application (by hand) and partial involvement in sowing and harvesting. It was also noted that tribal women were completely involved in weeding, land preparation and manure & fertilizer application (by hand) and the activities in which they involved partially were harvesting and sowing.