Participation of Household Women in Undertaking Plant Health Management Practices in Home Gardens

Abstract

Women in the agricultural sector in India, particularly in Bihar face many socio-economic, educational and legal obstacles in realizing benefits of their efforts. This study assessed the role of women in untertaking plant health management practices in home gardens. One hundred households were interviewed and data were analyzed. The study indicated that decisions related to vegetable production and marketing within home gardens were mainly taken by women while the decisions on cereal and pulse crop production, management and utilization were made mainly by men. Men were the main decision makers in the management and utilization of cash crops that grow in the home garden. From the surveyed households, women were main decision makers for the management, consumption and marketing of fruit plants. In livestock production and management men were responsible for making decisions in large animals like cows while women had very little contribution on deciding about large ruminants. It was found that labor-intensive activities like land preparation, planting activities and marketing of products were mainly done by men while seed preservation, manuring, weeding and storage of produce were mainly done by women. The average time women spend in the home garden was six to eight hour/week while men spend four to five hours a week. Policies and strategies need to be developed to enhance the benefits of home gardens to both men and women.