(Profes4Ir M. 4?ihidul Haque) Co -Supervisor
I_P ttfrl
(Professor McI. Shadat Ulla) Cia innan
Examination Committee (Yrotessor Md. Shadat
ulia)
C,i,n,nrcn,.
PARTICIPATION OF SANTAL WOMEN IN AGRICULTURAL INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITIES (IGA) IN DINAJPUR DISTRICT
Lw1
MD. AOLAD HOSSAIN RE&ISTRAflON NO. 00466
A Thesis
Submitted to the Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dháka,
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN
AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AND INFORMATION SYSTEM SEMESTER: JULY-DECEMBER. 2006
Approved by:
L-r Cfl?Mi 1PMJ14T
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University
tS
Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka- 1207, Bangladesh.CtEVYAFICflE
This is to certify that the thesis entitled "PARTICIPATION OF SANTAL WOMEN IN AGRICULTURAL INCOME GENERATING ACFIVITIES (WA) IN DDJASJPUR DISTRJCr" submitted to the Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AND INFORMATION SYSTEM, embodies the result of a piece of bonafide research work carried out by MD.
AOLAD IJOSSAIN, Registration No. 00466 under my supervision and guidance. No part of the thesis has been submitted for any other degree or diploma.
I further certify that such help or source of information, as has been availed of during the course of this investigation has duly been acknowledged.
Dated:
Place: Dhaka, Bangladesh
(Professor Md. Shadat Ulla) Supervisor
idcphoflC 91442708. Fax: +8$0-2-$155800,E•rnait cau@tlhaktnct
ACKNOWLED GEMENT
All praises and thanks to almighty Allah, the supreme ruler of the universe who enabled the researcher to complete this study.
The author with a deep sense of respect expresses his heartfelt gratitude to his respectable supervisor Professor Md. Shadat Ulla, Chairman, Department of Agricultural Extension and Information System (AEIS), Sher-e- Bangla Agricultural University (SAU), Dhaka for his untiring and painstaking guidance, valuable suggestions, continuous supervision and scholastic co- operation that have made it possible to complete this piece of research and reviewing the entire manuscript.
The author deems it a proud privilege to express his heartfelt indebtedness, sincere appreciation and highest gratitude to co-supervisor M.
Zahidul Haque, Professor, Department of Agricultural Extension and Information System (AEIS), Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU), Dhaka for his cordial inspiration, guidance and continuous counseling during the tenure of conducting this study.
The author expresses his gratitude and indebtedness to all the honourablo course instructors of the Department of Agricultural Extension and Information System (AEIS) of SAU for their kind help and co-operation in various stages towards completion of this research work. The author expresses his gratitude and cordial thanks specially to Professor Mohammad Hossain Bhuiyan, Associate Professor Rafiquel Islam and Assistant Professor Md. Sekender Ali of the Department of Agricultural Extension and Information System (AEIS), Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU) for their kind co- operation and helps to complete this piece of research work.
The author desires to express his special gratitude to all the respondent Santal women of the study area for their cordial co-operation during data collection period.
Last but not least, the author expresses his heartfelt gratitude and indebtedness to his beloved father Md. Tofazzal Hossain and mother Mrs.
Gulshanara Begum, brothers, sisters, relatives and friends for their inspiration, encouragement and blessings that enabled him to complete this research work.
The Author
LIST OF CONTENTS
ITEMS PAGE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
CONTENTS ji-vi
LIST OF TABLES vii
LIST OF FIGURES viii
LIST OF APPENDICES viii
ABSTRACT ix
CONTENTS
iTEMS PACE
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION 1-12
1.1 Background of the Study
1.2 Rationale of Work 2
1.3 Statements of the Problem 4
1.4 Specific Objectives 5
1.5 Scopes and Limitations of the Study 6
1.6 Assumptions 7
1.7 Hypotheses 7
1.8 Definition ofTernis
s
CHAPTER 2
REVIEW OF LITERATURE 13-21
2.1 Participation in Agricultural Income 13 Generating Activities
2.2 Review of Past Studies Concerning 16 Relationships on the Selected Charactcristics of
the Respondents with their Participation in Agricultural IGA
2.2.1 Age and Participation 16
2.2.2 Education and Participation 16
CONTENTS (Contd.)
ITEMS PAGE
2.2.3 Family Size and Participation 17 2.2.4 Farni Size and Participation 17 2.2.5 Annual Family Income and Participation 18 2.2.6 Cosmopolitencss and Participation 18 2.2.7 Extension Contact and Participation 19 2.2.8 Innovativeness and Participation 19 2.2.9 Knowledge and Participation 19 2.2.10 Attitude of Women and Participation 20 2.2.11 The Conceptual Framework of the Study 20 CHAPTER 3
METHODOLOGY 22-41
3.1 Locale of the Study 22
3.2 Population and Sample Size 22
3.3 Sc!cction of Variables 25
3.4 Measurement of Variables 25
3.4.1 Measurement of Independent Variables 25
3.4.1.1 Age 26
3.4.1.2 Level of Education 26
3.4.1.3 Family Size 26
3.4.1.4 Farm Size 27
3.4.1.5 Annual Family Income 27
3.4.1.6 Cosmopolitcness 28
3.4.1.7 Extension Contact 29
3.4.1.8 Innovativeness 32
3.4.1.9 Knowledge on Agricultural Income Generating Activities 33
3.4.1.10 Attitude towards Agricultural Income 34 Generating Activities
'II
CONTENTS (Contd.)
ITEMS -- PAGE
3.4.2 3.4.2.1
3.4.2.2 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 CHAPTER 4
Measurement of Dependent Variable Measurement of Participation of Santal Women in Selected Agricultural Income Generating Activities (IGA)
Measurement of Participation Index (P1) Measurement of Problem Confrontation Index (PCI)
Statement of the Hypothesis Instrument for Data Collection Collection of Data
Compilation of Data Statistica] Analysis
34 35 37 37 39 39 40 41 41
42-75 43 45 46 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Participation of Santal Women in
Agricultural Income Generating Activities (IGA)
4.2 Selected Characters of Santal Women 4.2.1 Age
4.2.2 Level of Education 47
4.2.3 Family Size 48
4.2.4 Farm Size 48
4.2.5 Annual Family Income 49
4.2.6 Cosmopoliteness 50
4.2.7 Extension Contact 51
4.2.8 Innovativeness 52
iv
CONTENTS (Contd.)
ITEMS PAGE
4.2.9 Knowledge of Santal Women on 53 Agricultural Income Generating Activities
4.2.10 Attitude of Santal Women towards 54 Agricultural Income Generating Activities
43 Relationship between the Characteristics of Santal Women and their Participation in Selected Agricultural Income Generating 56 Activities
4.3.1 Relationship between Age of Santal women 58 and Dependent Variable
4.3.2 Relationship between Level of Education of 59 Santal Women and Dependent Variable
433 Relationship between Family Size of Santal 60 Women and Dependent Variable
4.3.4 Relationship between Farm Size of Santal 61 Women and Dependent Variable
4.3.5 Relationship between Family Annual Income of 62 Santal Women and Dependent Variable
4.3.6 Relationship between Cosmopoliteness of 63 Santal Women and Dependent Variable
4.3.7 Relationship between Extension Contact of 64 Santal Women and Dependent Variable
4.3.8 Relationship between Tnnovativcness of Santal.
os
Women and Dependent Variable
4.3.9 Relationship between Knowledge of Santal 66 Women on Agricultural Income Generating
Activities and Dependent Variable
4.3.10 Relationship between Attitude of Santal 67 Women towards Agricultural Income
Generating Activities and Dependent Variable
4.4 Participation Index (P1) 68
4.5 Problem Confrontation Index (PC!) 73
V
CONTENTS (Contd.)
ITEMS PAGE
CHAPTER 5
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 76-86
5.1 Summary of the Findings 76
5.1.1 Selected Characteristics of Santal Women 75 5.1.2 Participation in Agricultural Income 79
Generating Activities
5.1.3 Relationship between the Selected 79 Characteristics of Santa! \Vomen with their
Participation in Agricultural Income Generating Aetivitics
5.1.4 Problem Confrontation Index (PCI) 79
5.2 Conclusions $0
5.3 Recommendations 84
5.3.1 Recommendations for Policy Issues 84 5.3.2 Recommendations for Future Studies 85
REFERENCE 87-93
APPENDIX-A 94-114
APPENDIX-B 115
vi
LIST OF TABLES
TABLE PAGE
3.1 Distribution of Population and Samples with 23 Reserve List
4.1 Santal Women's Personal Charactcristics Profile 45 4.2 Distribution of the Santal Women According to 46
their Age
4.3 Distribution of the Santal Women According to 47 their Level of Education
4.4 Distribution of Santal Women According to their 48 Family Size
4.5 Distribution of Santal Women According to their 49 Farm Size
4.6 Distribution of Santal Women According to their 50 Annual Family Income
4.7 Distribution of Santal Women According to their 51 Cosmopoli(cness
4.8 Distribution of Santal Women According to their 52 Extension Contact
4.9 Distribution of Santal Women According to their 53 Innovativeness
4.10 Distribution of Santal Women According to their 54 Knowledge on Agricultural IGA
4.11 Distribution of Santal Women According to their 55 Attitude towards Agricultural IGA
4.12 Coefficient of Correlation between the Selected 57 Independent and Dependent Variables
4.13 Participation Index for the Selected 40 Items of 68 Activities
Vii
LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE PAGE
2.1 The Conceptual Framework of the Study 21 3.1 A Map of Dinajpur District Showing the Locale 24 4.1 Bar Graph Showing Categories of Participation 44 4.2 Bar Graph Showing PCI for Selected 10 Problems 73
LIST OF APPENDICES
APPENDIX PAGE
Appendix-A English and Bengali Version of the Interview 94-114 Schedule
Appendix-B Correlation Matrix of Dependent and 115 Independent variables
vi"
PARTICIPATION OF SANTAL WOMEN IN AGRICULTURAL INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITIES (IGA) IN DINAIPUR DISTRICT
ABSTRACT
The main purpose of the study was to determine the extent of participation of the Santal women in agricultural income generating activities (IGA) in Dinajpur district and to explore the relationships between the selected characteristics of the respondents and their participation in agricultural income generating activities (IGA). The study was conducted in five upazilas of Dinajpur district namely, Birganj, Biral, Sadar, Birampur and Nawabganj. Data were collected from 100 Santal women by using a pre-tested interview schedule during the period from September 20 to October 20, 2006. Appropriate scales were developed to measure the variables of the study. Correlation(s) test was used to ascertain the relationships between the concerned independent and dependent variables of the study. Findings revealed that age and family size had no significant relationship with their participation in agricultural income generating activities (IGA), while level of education, farm size, annual family income, cosmopoliteness, extension contact, innovativeness, knowledge on agricultural income generating activities (IGA) and attitude towards agricultural income generating activities (IGA) had significant positive relationship with their participation in agricultural income generating activities (IGA). In this study, 40 items of agricultural income generating activities (IGA) were selected to measure the extent of participation of the Santal women. Out of these, three items participated by majority of the Santal women in descending order of Participation Index (P1) were (i) "Nursing the kids of goat", (ii)
"Feeding of goat" and (iii) "Winnowing of rice". The study revealed that highest proportion (58 percent) of the Santal women had low participation in agricultural income generating activities (IGA) compared to 28 and 14 percent having medium participation and high participation respectively. Besides, the Santal women indicated 10 problems regarding participation in agricultural income generating activities (IGA).
Out of these, three problems in descending order of Problem Confrontation Index (PCI) were (I) "Lack of necessary agricultural land", (ii) "Lack of capital" and (iii) "Lack of extension workers".
Chapter 1
Introduction
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Santals, an ethnic group in Bangladesh, are mainly living in the Himalayan sub-mountain region in different districts of Rajshahi division.
Their principal home is in Radha (in \Vest Bengal), the forests of adjacent Bihar (Jhadkliand) and Orissa, and Chhota Nagpur. The British government assigned a special territory for their living and named it Santal Pargana. It is difficult to definitely say when and why they settled in the East Bengal region.
But the census of 1881 shows that there were Santal settlements in the districts of Dinajpur, Pabna, Jessore, Khulna and even in Chittagong. A survey of the Santal population of present Bangladesh area conducted in 1941 recorded their number as 829,025. The censuses organized after the Partition of Bengal (1947) did not count Santals as a separate group of people, and consequently, their exact number in Bangladesh could not be determined. According to an estimate made by Christian missionaries in the 1980s, the Santal population in northern Bangladesh was over one hundred thousand. According to the 1991 census, the Santal population was over two hundred thousand (Banglapedia, 2006).
Santals and related aborigines are among the earliest settlers of the subcontinent and are acknowledged as the progenitors and maintainers of agricultural production system and agro-hased culture (Banglapedia, 2006). In fact, Santal men and women are animistie nature-worshippers, but idol-worship is not a part of their religious practices. Expressing gratitude to the god of crops is a part of their festival.
Santals live a poor life. They are compelled to sell their labour at a very low price in rice fields, tea gardens or elsewhere. Besides, they dig soil, carry loads, or engage themselves in similar works of day labourers. They are accustomed to hard work. Skilful workers as they are, Santal women, especially young girls are by nature very labourious and beauty conscious.
Santal women are skilled in making different kinds of cakes.
Domination of the male is more pronlinent in the Santal society although, the role of women in the family is by no means insignificant. Santal women rather take a leading role in earning livelihood or in farming work. The houses of Santals are small but their yards are very clean. Artwork on earthen walls of the house is evidence of Santal women's liking for beauty and of their artistic mind. Furniture in the house is very simple reflecting their plain lifestyle.
In the terribly poverty-stricken life of Santals, Christian missionary work of social welfiire and, along with that, preaching of the message of spiritual peace accelerated them to become Christian. On the other hand, as a result of financial aid from NGOs, desire for receiving modem education is growing among Santals, but poverty is a great obstacle. The Santal community has not been able to free themselves from the rule and exploitation by landowners and moneylenders.
1.2 Rationale of Work
Women are the key operators of household activities. Their involvement in agricultural income generating activities started from time immemorial. They were pioneers in plant domestication and planned agriculture (Cliilde, 1971). Women played signi flcant role in agricultural development in the allied fields including crop production, livestock production, horticulture, post-harvest operations, agro-social forestry and fisheries. The activities of women are mainly restricted within the household more particularly in taking care of children and other family
2
members. preparing and serving tood to members of the household and maintaining houses. In addition, the women do some productive activities including agricultural and non-agricultural works within the homestead (Halim and McCarthy. 1985). Thus women perform more activities compared to men. Farouq (1980) reported that women's productive hour ranged from 10 to 14 hours a day compared to men's such hour ranged from 9 to 12. But many of the activities performed by women are not considered as the productive ones and hence not reflected in the national census (Saner, 1979). Rural women are mostly underutilized, largely unrecognized though they contribute significantly to agricultural and non-agricultural activities (Akanda. 1994). This is the pathetic scenario of Bangladeshi women whereas women constitute about half of the population. Jr one wants to develop the Bangladesh economy by reducing poverty, one has to give proper attention to develop the agricultural sector as total agricultural production is far below than the national requirements.
Therefore, there is a great scope to raise the agricultural production.
Now, the question is how it could he? Obviously the answer is to involve the women in different agricultural income generating activities (IGA). So. proper documentation of women participation in agricultural IGA is necessary to provide due weightage and recognition. On the other hand, there is a need to find out working areas for intensifying their participation in agricultural production. In a country like Bangladesh, more involvenient of women in agriculture particularly homestead agriculture becomes mandatory to combat the overall food shortage, malnutrition and also to boost up economic development of the country.
A number of Santal families are living in different upazilas of Dinajpur district. We know that. Santal women take a leading role in earning livelihood or in fanning work (Banglapedia. 2005). Santal women like other rural women can play effective role in agricultural production of this area
j
if their participation in agricultural IGA increases. So, the present study was undcrtaken to know the actual situation of Santal women 's participation in some common agricultural IGA of the study area.
1,3 Statements of tile Problem
In rural areas of Bangladesh, homestead is the unique piece of land for dwelling as well as the production Unit of agricultural and non-agricultural commodities. This is the place wherefrom comes a substantial amount of family nutrition and income. Integrated farming is an age long practice in the homestead but is not in a planned manner. It is said that women perform most of the household activities. In addition to their regular non-agricultural activities, Santal women are also involved in many agricultural income generating activities (IGA).
Now, the question arises:
I. Are they really participating in agricultural IGA? If the answer is yes, what is the extent of their participation in different agricultural IGA?
Is participation of Santal women in agricultural IGA affected by their personal characteristics (e.g. age, education, knowledge etc.), economic characteristics (e.g. farm size, annual family income etc.), social characteristics (e.g. family size. cosmopoliteness, extension contact) or psychological characteristics (e.g. attitude, innovativeness etc.)?
What problems are they facing to participate in agricultural IGA?
So, there are a number of questions. The present study was thus undertaken to get an answer of the above mentioned questions. It was assumed that an assessment of Santal women's involvement in agricultural IGA could be helpful to formulate policy and programmes for the development of Santal families. This will enhance agricultural production of the country as well as increase family income of the Santal women.
4
1.4 Specific Objectives
In order to proper direction to the research the following specific objectives were formulated:
I. To assess the extent of participation of Santal women in four selected agricultural income generating activities (IGA). The activities are:
Homestead vegetable cultivation Post-harvest activities
Poultry raising Goat rearing
2. To determine and describe some selected personal, economic, social and psychological characteristics of Santal women. The selected characteristics are:
A. Personal characteristics Age
Level of Education
Knowledge on agricultural IGA B. Economic characteristics
Farm size
Annual family income C. Social characteristics
Family size Cosmopoliteness Extension contact
D. Psychological characteristics
Attitude towards agricultural IGA Innovativeness
3. To explore relationships betwccn the selected characteristics of Santal women with their extent of participation in agricultural IGA.
4. To assess problems faced by the Santal women in participating in agricultural IGA.
Ii
1.5 Scopes and Limitations of the Study
The role of women is changing fast under economic pressure in gcncral and rural PrOsPect in particular. Government has also given emphasis to involve women in different development activities of the country because they are now a definite strength in the nation building process. Findings of the study will be helpful to planners, administrators and other associated with the development of Santal families to formulate policy and prograrnmcs for developing their living status.
Considering time, money and other necessary resources and also to make the study meaningful and manageable, the researcher had to impose certain limitations as mentioned below:
I. The study was confined to a few selected areas of live upazilas in Dinajpur district.
2. There were many agricultural income generating activities (WA) participated by Santal women within or outside the homestead. Out of them only the following four agricultural WA was considered for this research work:
Homestead vegetable cultivation Post-harvest activities
Poultry raising Goat rearing
3. There were many items under each of the agricultural IGA, but only 10 (ten) items were selected under each of the activity for measuring extent of participation.
4. Only the housewives of male-headed families were considered as respondents of the study.
5. There were many characteristics of the housewives but only ID (ten) of them were selected for this study.
6. The researcher had to depend on the data furnished by the selected respondents.
6
1.6 Assumptions
An assumption is the supposition that an apparent fact or principle is true in the light of available evidence (Goode, 1945). During the course of study, the researcher had the following assumptions in mind:
The selected respondents were competent enough to reply the queries made by the researcher.
The responses furnished by the respondents were reliable and valid.
Information furnished by the respondents was a representation of the whole population of the study area.
The environmental conditions of Santal women were more or less similar throughout the study area.
1.7 Hypotheses
Goode and Flatt (1952) defined hypothesis as "a proposition which can be put to a test to determine its validity. It may seem contrary to or in accord with common sense". A null hypothesis states that there is no relationship between the concerned variables. However, the following null hypotheses were formulated to explore relationships of the selected characteristics of Santal women and their participation in agricultural income generating activities (IGA).
I. There is no relationship between age of Santal women and their participation in homestead vegetable cultivation, post-harvest activities, poultry raising and goat rearing.
There is no relationship between level of education of Santal women and their participation in homestead vegetable cultivation, post-harvest activities, poultry raising and goat rearing.
There was 110 relationship between family size of Santal women and their participation in homestead vegetable cultivation, post-harvest activities, poultry raising and goat rearing.
7
There was no relationship between farm size of Santal women and their participation in homestead vegetable cultivation, post-harvest activities, poultry raising and goat rearing.
There was no relationship between annual family income of Santal women and their participation in homestead vegetablc cultivation, post- harvest activities, poultry raising and goat rearing.
There was no relationship between cosmopoliteness of Santal women and their participation in homestead vegetable cultivation, post-harvest activities, poultry raising and goat rearing.
There was no relationship between extension contact of Santal women and their participation in homestead vegetable cultivation, post-harvest activities, poultry raising and goat rearing.
There is no relationship between innovativeness of Santal women and their participation in homestead vegetable cultivation, post-harvest activities, poultry raising and goat rearing.
There is no relationship between knowledge of Santal women on agricultural IGA and their participation in vegetable cultivation, post- harvest activities, poultry raising and goat rearing.
1O.Thcre is no relationship between attitude of Santal women towards agricultural IGA and their participation in homestead vegetable cultivation, post-harvest activities, poultry raising and goat rearing.
1.8 Definition of Terms
For clarity of understanding certain the following terms used frequently throughout the study are defined and interpreted in alphabetical order:
Age
Age of a Santal woman may be defined as the chronological account of life of a Santal woman from her birth to the time of interview.
Agricultural Income Generating Activities (IGA)
Agricultural Income Generating Activities refer to the works done by the Santal women members of the households to increase agricultural production directly or indirectly to raise their income. Agricultural income generating activities (IGA) of the Santal women included post harvest activities such as threshing, winnowing, drying and preserving grains, vegetable and fruit production within the homestead area, poultry raising, goat rearing, cattle farming and such other activities related to agricultural production.
Annual Family Income
Annual family income of a Santal woman is defined as total earning of a respondent and other members of her family from agriculwre and other sources (services, business etc.) during last year.
Attitude towards Agricultural Income Generating Activities (IGA)
Attitude of a Santal woman towards agricultural income generating activities (IGA) may be defined as her mental state of readiness that has dynamic influence upon the individual's response to any social object or situation. The term attitude towards agricultural income generating activities (IGA) is used to refer beliefs, feelings and action tendencies of a Santal woman towards the production of vegetables, poultry, goats etc. and also involvement in post harvest activities and other income generating activities (IGA) within or outside the homestead area.
Co s IUOIO Ii ten ess
Cosmopolitencss of a Santal woman refers to her frequency of movement to a distant place from her village.
Extension Contact
Extension contact of a Santal woman refers to her capability of becoming accessible to the influence of extension education through different extension teaching methods.
Family Size
Family size of a Santal woman is defined as total number of individuals in her family including herself (Santal women), her husband, children and other dependent members who live and eat together.
Fariti
A farm of a Santal woman refers to a household or unit of holding organized for production of one or more enterprises like crops, livestock, fish, trees etc. for the purpose of satisfying the Santal women's goal. A farm may or may not be of commercial venture.
Farm Size
Farm size of a Santal woman refers to the area of land owned by a farmer or his wife on which farming activities are carried out. A respondent was considered to have full benefit from cultivated area either owned by her or obtained on borga system. The area was being estimated in terms of full benefit to the respondent. The right of a farmer on the land taken on lease or mortgage from others was regarded as ownership in estimating the farm size.
Homestead
The homestead areas of Santal women for this study was defined as the raised lands of five selected villages of the study areas tinder Dinajpur district in which the households had entire dwelling including living rooms, kitchen, cattle shed, sheep or goat shed, poultry house, frontyard, courtyard, and the area under vegetables, fruit trees, timber trees, backyard bushes, bamboo bunches etc.
10
Homestead Agriculture
Homestead agriculture of a Santal woman refers to production of agricultural commodities viz. crops, livestock etc. including post-harvest activities which are usually performed in the homestead area.
Inn ova t iv en e ss
Innovativeness of a Santal woman refers to the degree to which a respondent was relatively earlier to accept innovations in terms of new ideas, practices and things than other members of her social system.
Knowledge on Agricultural Income Generating Activities (IGA)
Knowledge on agricultural income generating activities (IGA) of a Santal woman refers to the rationalistic understanding about different activities related to agricultural production within or outside the homestead area. In other words, knowledge referred to the development of consciousness and understanding of the Santal women about different aspects of agricultural income generating activities (IGA).
Level of Education
Level of education of a Santal woman refers to the development of desirable knowledge, skill and attitude in the individual through reading, writing and other related activities. In this study level of education was meant for years of schooling of Santal women respondents.
Non-agricultural Activities
Non-agricultural household activities of a Santal woman are the activities which are not related to agricultural production. These include taking care of children, cooking and feeding all members of thc household, taking care of the house, maintaining utensils, furn iturb and the like, and taking care of all the members of the household when any of them got sick.
II
Participation in Agricultu nil Income Generating Activities (IGA)
Participation in agricultural income generating activities (IGA) of a Santal woman was considered to be an active process, meaning that the person or group took initiatives toward achieving something. Here, participation of a Santal woman in agricultural income generating activities (IGA) meant to be involved in selected four items of agricultural income generating activities (IGA) by the Santal women. The items of agricultural IGAs were: (i) homestead vegetable cultivation, (ii) post-harvest activities, (iii) poultry raising and (iv) goat rearing.
Post-harvest Activities
Post-harvest activities of a Santal woman refer to operations done after harvest of a crop. The operations included threshing, winnowing, drying, grading and preserving of agricultural produces. These operations usually are performed in the homestead.
Santal Women
Santal women refer to as a racial group, specially united by language and customs, living as a community under one or more chiefs in the Santal occupied areas.
12
Chapter 2
Review of Lileralure
C!IAPTE1Tt 2
REVIE\V OF LITERATURE
This chapter deals with the review of past rescarches related to this investigation. The reviews are conveniently presented based on the major objectives of the study. In spite of sincere effort adequate numbers of direct related literatures were not readily available for this study.
However, the literatures of available studies have been briefly discussed in this chapter.
2.1 Participation in Agricultural Income Generating Activities
Gopalappa (1997) reported that the respondent women's contribution to the household agriculture was greatly appreciated.
Islam c/
al.
(1996) found that age and family size of participating women had no significant relationship with their extent of participation but education, mass media exposure, contact with extension agents women respondents' attitude and their husbands' attitude were found to be significantly associated with women's extent of participation in agricultural activities.Karim and
Wee
(1996) mentioned that women were involved in seed collection, seed storage, fertilizer application, and daily maintenance and harvesting. In case of tribal people, vegetables were growing mostly cared by women.Ajayi (1995) in his study found that most women take part in planting, weeding, harvesting and post-harvest activities of subsistence crops.
13
Chakma (1995) in a soeio-ccononiic study in a selected area of Khagrachari Hill district found that women and children participation from the landless group was the highcst particularly in the case of hiring out the labour.
Akanda (1994) in his study revealed that highest proportion of the rural women had high participation in vegetable cultivation while only 15 percent of them had high participation in the cultivation of fruit trees.
Islam and Dham (1994) reported that women member of the co-operator farm families participated in all the operations needed for homestead gardening whatsoever.
Sultana (1993) stated that homestead vegetables and fruits form an integral part of the family diet and a part of them enters the commercial market.
Virdi (1993) mentioned that rural women in Bangladesh have almost always been associated with agriculture.
Vlassak (1993) mentioned that in third world countries, the role of women in agricultural production is extremely important. The tasks in agriculture as well as in food distribution and processing carried out by women show particular pattern. Women like to increase agricultural production, but their activities are being impeded in different ways.
Halim (1990) stated that rural women in Bangladesh were active in productive works in household industry and even in marketing in addition to taking care of children, preparing and serving food to other members of the family.
14
Gleason (1988) in his report mentioned that women in rural Taiwan often worked with their male counter-parts in almost all aspect of agricultural production. There were tendencies for women to perform certain tasks that men were likely to do and vice versa.
1-lossain c/ al. (1988) reported that women constitute about 48% of the total population in Bangladesh. Even then, their role is not adequately reflected in the national census and development activities because of lack of necessary information and documentation on homestead agriculture.
Quddus ci al. (1985) reported that the kitchen gardening and home level food processing was satisfactory extension work and their participation was highly favourable.
Dey (1985) mentioned in his paper that women in the households are economically active and played important role in post-harvest operations as well as other activities like kitchen gardening and livestock care.
Younus (1984) stated that social attitude to women participation in activities outside the home became more favourable in eighties particularly when women participation was considered as an economic advantage to the family.
lluq (1974) mentioned that women play important role in country's economic growth, especially in agricultural production
15
2.2 Review of Past Studies Concerning Relationships on the Selected Characteristics of the Respondents with their Participation in Agricultural ICA
2.2.1 Age and Participation
Akancla (1994), Akhter (1989), Iqbal (1963) and Nair (1963) found that respondents' age had significant positive relationship with their participation in agricultural practices.
Sirohi (1985) reported that there were differences in operations among different age groups. Accordingly threshing and sowing belonged to the age group of 25-40 and Less than 15 years, respectively.
!-luq (1981) stated that 70 percent of women workers of the study belong to the age group of 15-24 i.e. unmarried women spent more time than married women in labour force.
2.2.2 Education and Participation
Nahar (1996), Akanda (1994) and Kaur (1988) stated that education of respondents had significant positive relationship with their participation in agricultural practices.
Karim (1993) observed a positive trend of association between the farmer's education and their agricultural knowledge in sugarcane cult i vat i on.
Kaur (1988) found that education influenced the opinion of the women about adoption of vegetable gardening, animal husbandry etc.
16
Arya (1979) in her study on \vorncrfs role in decision making in farm credit found that family education had no significant relationship with wonieri's participation in decision making.
Ilossain (1985) in his study found that there was no relationship between educations of the women with their adoption of improved practices.
2.2.3 Family Size and Participation
Akanda (1994) nicntioncd that family size of the rural women had significant positive relationship with their participation in the cultivation of fruit trees. The relationship with homestead vegetable cultivation and non-farm household activities was also positive but not significant.
Parveen (1993) and Yasmin (1987) found that there was a significant positive relationship between family size of the farm women and their knowledge on respcctive topics.
Akhtcr (1989) in her study found that family size of rural women had significant negative correlation with their attitude towards homestead production.
Dcvi (1983) reported that family size had significant positive association with the farm and house management role performance of the rural women.
2.2.4 Farm Size and Participation
Akanda (1994), Saugwan ci aL (1990), Akhter (1989), E3hatnagar and Sexena (1987), Ahsan ce al. (1986), Abdullah (1993) and Westernguard (1981) found that farm size of the respondents had significant positive relationship with their participation in agricultural practices.
17
1-lalini (1991) and Dixon (1988) mentioned from his research findings that women's work is positively associated with small size of land. Their participation falls with the emergence of commercialized relation in agriculture.
[slam and Ahmed (1987) observed that landless and small farm households are involved primarily in vegetable and spices cultivation while large and medium households more often cultivate fruits and trees.
2.2.5 Annual Family Income and Participation
Akanda (1994), Akhtcr (1989), World Bank (1988) and Sattar (1979) observed that family income had significant positive relationship with their participation in agricultural practices.
Ahmed (1977) found that income of the rural women had significant relationship with the use of information sources in the adoption of plant protection measures.
2.2.6 Cosmopoliteness and Participation
Akanda (1994) found that non-loealite behaviour or cosmopoliteness of rural women was negatively cotTelated with their participation in homestead vegetable cultivation, cultivation of fruit trees and non-farm household activities.
Ahmed (1977) found no relationship between cosmopoliteness of the rural women and each of the adoption of recommended variety of jute, recommended dose of fertilizers and plant protection measure in jute cultivation.
18
Latif (1974) in his study found that there was a positive relationship between cosmopoliteness of the rural women and their communication exposure.
Karim (1973) found a significant positive relationship between cosmopoliteness of the transplanted Arnan rice growers and their adoption of fertilizers.
2.2.7 Extension Contact and Participation
Nahar (1996), Karim (1993), Islam (1991) and Kaur (1988) in a study observed that extension contact and mass media exposure had positively significant relationship with their participation in agricultural practices.
2.2.8 Innovativeness and Participation
Akanda (1994) and Rahman (1973) found that innovativeness of the rural women had positive relationship with participation in agricultural practices.
Kashcm and Halim (1991) reported that innovativeness of the rural women had significant positive relationship with their self-confidence, use of communication media in adoption of modem rice technology, live stock production and adoption of total agricultural tcchnology.
2.2.9 Knowledge and Participation
Au (1995), Parveen (1993) and Vcrma et al. (1988) stated that agricultural knowledge of the respondents had significant positive relationship with their attitude towards respective activities.
19
Akanda (1994) in his study found that agricultural knowledge of the rural women had positive relationship with their participation in the cultivation of fruit trees.
2.2.10 Attitude and Participation
Au (1995) mentioned that agricultural knowledge of the rural women had significant positive relationship with their attitude towards working in group in agricultural activities.
Fatema (1995) in her study found that the correlation between problem confrontation and attitude of the farm women towards agricultural income generating activities was negatively significant i.e.
women who had more favourable attitude towards agricultural income generating activities face less problem.
Islam (1991) conducted a study on attitude of the rural women towards technology and found that contact and non-contact rural women differed significantly regarding their attitude towards technology.
1.8 The Conceptual Framework of the Study
In scientific research, selection and measurement of variables constitute an important task. The hypothesis of a research while constructed properly contains at least two important elements i.e. "a dependent variable" and "an independent variable". A dependent variable is that factors which appears, disappears or varies as the research introduces, removes or varies the independent variable (Townsend. 1953).
An independent variable is that factor which is manipulated by the researcher in his attempt to ascertain its relationship to an observed phenomenon. In view of prime findings of review of literature, the researcher constructed a conceptual model of the study, which is self- explanatory and is presented in Figure 2.1.
20
INDEPENDENT VARIABLES
Selected ctwactertstics of the Saidal Age
Level of Education Fanly Size
Farm Size
Faulty Annual Income Cosmopoliteness Extension Contact Innovativeness
Knowledge on agr$cuftwal IGA Attltucle tovaids agilcstural IGA
DEPENDENT VARIABLE
Participation of Santal women In the following four selected agricultural income
generating activities (IGA):
Homestead vegetable cultivation
Post-harvest activities Poultry raising
Goat ieailng
Figure 2.1 The Conceptual Framework of the Study.
21
Chapter 3
Methodolo gy
Ll
CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY
In any scientific research, methodology plays an important role.
Appropriate methodology helps the researcher to collect valid and reliable information and analyze the information properly in order to arrive at correct conclusions. The methods and procedures followed in conducting the study have been descried below step by step:
3.1 Locale of the Study
Santal families are not available equally in all upazilas of Dinajpur district. Therefore, five upazilas of Dinajpur district covering five Santal occupied villages were selected purposively as the study area on the basis of the number of Santal inhabitants. The upazilas were Birganj, Biral, Sadar, Birampur and Nawabganj. A map of Dinajpur district showing locale of the study appears in Figure 3.1.
3.2 Population and Sample Size
Five Santal occupied villages were selected randomly from the study taking one village from each upazila. There were 511 Santal households in these five villages. Therefore, five hundred and eleven (511) Santal women of these families constituted the population of the study. Then, one hundred Santal women were selected randomly as sample of the study using a Random Table (Kerlinger, 1973) taking proportionately 20% of the population of each upazila. Data were collected from the sample using a pre-tested interview schedule. Resides, 10 percent of the samples i.e. 10 Santal women were selected from the
22
population as reserves who were supposed to be interviewed only when respondents in the original list found unavailable during data collection.
The distribution of the populations and the samples as well as a reserve list of the Santa] women is shown in Table 3. 1.
Table 3.1 Distribution of Population and Samples with Reserve List
Name of Name of Total Number of Number of SI. Selected Selected Number of Sample Households No. Upazilas Villages Households Households in Reserve
List
l3irganj Singara 108 22 2
2 Biral Dharrnapur 97 19 2
3 Sadar Jopeya 86 15
4 Birampur Prayaqpur 92 18 2
5 Nawabganj Khalippur 128 26 3
Total 511 100 10
23
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Figure Si A Map of Dinajpur District Showing the Locale.
3.3 Selection of Variables
There are fourteen variables in this study of which ten are independent variables and four are dependent variables.
The independent variables arc:
Age,
Level of Education, in. Family Size,
Farm Size,
Annual Family Income, Cosmopoliteness, T Extension Contact,
Innovativeness,
Knowledge on Agricultural Income Generating Activities and Attitude towards Agricultural Income Generating Activities.
LA
The dependent variables are:
Extent of participation of the Santal women in homestead vegetable cultivation,
Extent of participation of the Santal women in post-harvest activities, Extent of participation of the Santal women in poultry raising and Extent of participation of the Santal women in goat rearing.
c')
3.4 Measurement of Variables
Of\ 3.4.1 Measurement of Independent Variables
in this study selected personal, economic, social and psychological characteristics of the Santal women were considered as independent variables. These characteristics are as follows:
25
3.4.1.1 Age
Age of the Santal woman refers to the period of time from her birth to the time of interview. It was measured in terms of actual years on the basis of her response to item No. I of the interview schedule.
3.4.1.2 Level of Education
The level of education of a respondent was measured by the number of years of schooling. A score of one (1) was assigned for each year of schooling completed. For example, if a respondent completed class one study, his level of education score was assigned as I. The knowledge status of a respondent who could sign only was considered same as the level of class one student. Therefore, a score of one (1) was assigned to that respondent who could sign only. If a respondent passed class V, his level of education score was considered as
5.
If a respondent did not go to school but studied at home and if his knowledge status was equivalent to the student of class five, then he was assigned score 5.3.4.1.3 Family Size
Family size of the Santal woman was measured by the number of family members of the respondent including herself, her husband, children and other dependents (fully or partially) on respondent's income.
The total number of family members was considered as the family size score of a respondent. For example, if a respondent has 5 members in his family, his family size score was given as 5. Thus family size score of a respondent was determined from her response to item No. 3 of the interview schedule.
26
3.4.1.4 Farm Size
Farm size of a respondent was measurcd by the land area possessed by her. Data obtained in response to questions tinder item No. 4 of the interview schedule formed the basis for determining the farm size of the respondent. Here, farm size was computed by using the following formula:
Farm size = A1 + A2 + A3
+ I
(A4 +A5) ± A6 ± A7 Where,A1 = Homestead area
A2 = Own land under own cultivation A3 = Own pond and garden
A4 = Given to others as borga A5 = Taken from others as borga A6 = Taken from others as lease A 7 = Others
The respondent has given information for their farm size in local measurement. Finally, it was converted into hectare and was considered as the farm
size
score of a respondent.3.4.1.5 Annual Family Income
The method of determining annual family income of a respondent involved two aspects. The first aspect is agriculture and the second aspect is non-agriculture. In calculating the annual family income of a respondent, income from different sources were added togethcr to obtain total annual family income of a respondent. A score of I was assigned for Tk. 1000. For an amount less than Tk.1000, a fraction score was coniputeci and added with the main score. Data obtained in response to item No. 5 of the interview schedule were used to calculate the income score of a respondent.
27
3.4.1.6 Cosmopoliteness
Cosniopoliteness of a respondent referred to frequency of visit to different places outside from her own village. The following scale was used for computing cosmopoliteness score of a rcspondcnt.
Place of visit Scoring system
1.Visit to other 0 = not even once a month (Never) villages I = 1-4 times in a month (Rarely)
2 = 5-8 times in a month (Occasionally) 3 = 9 or more times in a month (Regularly) 2.Visit to own 0 = Not even once in 6 months (Never)
upazila town I = 1-4 times in 6 months (Rarely)
2 = 5-8 times in 6 months (Occasionally) 3 = 9 or more times in 6 months (Regularly) 3. Visit to own 0 = Not even once a year (Never)
district town I = 1-4 times in a year (Rarely)
2 = 5-8 times in a year (Occasionally) 3 = 9 or more times in a year (Regularly) 4. Visit to other 0 = Not even once in a year (Never)
district town I = 1-2 times in a year (Rarely)
2 = 3-4 times in a year (Occasionally) 3 = 5 or more times in a year (Regularly) 5. Visit to capital 0 = Not even once a year (Never)
city/divisional I = Once in a year (Rarely) town
2 Twice in a year (Occasionally)
3 = 3 or more times in a year (Regularly)
28
Scores obtained for visit to each of the above five categories of places were added together to get the cosmopolitencss score of a respondent. The range of cosmopoliteness score could be from '0' to '15', where '0' indicates '110 cosmopolitencss' and '15' indicates 'very high cosmopoliteness'.
3.4.1.7 Extension Contact
Extension contact is referred to the exposure or contact of the Santal woman with some selected information sources and personalities.
Extension contact is very important for receiving information from various sectors. The extension contact score of a respondent was measured on the basis of her extent of contact with the selected information sources within a given duration for getting required information. There are three levels of extension contact. These are as follows:
a) Personal Contact
Personal contact of a respondent was measured by computing personal contact score on the basis of the extent of visit. The scale used for determining the exposure of a respondent is given below:
Source of Contact Scoring System
1.Agricultural Extension 0 = Not even once in a year (Never) Officer I = Once in a year (Rarely)
2 Twice in a year (Occasionally)
3 More than twice in a year (Regularly) 2. SAAO 0 Not even once in a year (Never)
1-3 times in a year (Rarely)
2 = 4-6 times in a year (Occasionally) 3 = More than 6 times in a year (Regularly)
29
Source of Contact Scoring System 3. Other Extension Officers 0 = Not even once in a year (Never)
(Livestock Officer, Fisheries I = Once in a year (Rarely)
Officer) 2 = Twice in a year (Occasionally)
3 = More than twice in a year (Regularly) 4. Other Organizations' field 0 = Not even once in a year (Never)
worker (health worker) I = Once in a year (Rarely) 2 = Once in a year (Occasionally)
3 = More than twice in a year (Regularly) 5. Field worker of NGO 0 = Not even once in a month (Never)
= 1-2 times in a month (Rarely) 2 = 3-4 times in a month (Occasionally) 3 = More than 4 times in a month (Regularly) 6. Dealer of agricultural 0 = Not even once in a month (Never)
commodities I = 1-2 times in a month (Rarely) 2 = 3-4 times in a month (Occasionally) 3 = More than 4 times in a month (Regularly)
Total score of a respondent was determined by adding all personal contact scores. This score of a respondent could range from 0-18 where '0' indicates 'no personal contact' and '18' indicates 'high personal contact' as shown in item No. 7 (a) of the interview schedule.
b) Group Contact
The total group contact score of a respondent was measured by computing all the group contact scores as shown in item No. 7 (b) of the interview schedule. Scores were assigned for group contact in the following manner:
30
Source of Contact Scoring System 1. Group discussion 0 = Not even once in 6 months (Never)
1 = 1-2 times in 6 months (Rarely) 2 = 3-4 times in 6 months (Occasionally)
3 = More than 4 times in 6 months (Regularly) 2. Field day 0 = Not even once in a year (Never)
= Once in a year (Rarely)
2 = Twice in a year (Occasionally)
3 = More than twice in a year (Regularly) 3.Result demonstration 0 = Not even once in a year (Never)
1 = Once in a year (Rarely)
2 = Twice in a year (Occasionally)
3 = More than twice in a year (Regularly) 4. Participation in 0 = Not even once in life (Never)
agricultural I = 1-2 times in life (Rarely)
training course 2 = 3-4 times in life (Occasionally) 3 = More than 4 times in life (Regularly)
The group contact score of a respondent could range from 0 to 12, where '0' indicates 'no group contact' and '12' indicates 'high group contact'.
c) Mass Contact
Data obtained in response to item No. 7 (c) of the interview schedule were used to obtain mass contact score of a respondent. Scores were assigned for mass contact in the following manner:
31
Source of Contact Scoring System I. Upazila agricultural fair 0 = Not even once in a month (Never)
I = I time in a month (Rarely)
2 = 2 times in a month (Occasionally) 3 = 3 times in a month (Regularly) 2. Radio program named 0 = Not even once in a month (Never)
"Dcsh Amar Mati I = 1 time in a month (Rarely)
Amar" 2 = 2 times in a month (Occasionally) 3 = 3 or more times in a month (Regularly) 3. District agricultural fair 0 = Not even once in 3 months (Never)
= I time in 3 months (Rarely)
2 = 2 times in 3 months (Occasionally) 3 3 times in 3 months (Regularly)
According to above scale possible mass contact score of the respondent could range from 0 to 9, where '0' indicates 'no mass contact' and '9' indicate 'high mass contact'.
Extension Contact Score = Personal Contact Score + Group Contact Score + Mass Contact Score.
Thus, the possible extension contact score of the respondents could range from 0 to 39, where '0' indicates 'no extension contact' and '39' indicates 'high extension contact'.
3.4.1.8 Innovativeness
The term innovativencss refers to the degree to which an individual is relatively earlier in adopting new ideas than the other members of his social system (Rogers. 1983). Innovativeness of a respondent was measured on the basis of adoption of 10 selected improved technologies by the respondents. Score was assigned on the basis of two dimensions (a) how many technologies were adopted and (b) how many years have taken to adopt these selected technologies after being informed for the first time.
32
The following formula was used for computing the innovativeness score of a respondent.
I = T,,x Y1 + T. xY, ± T11 xY3 + '1' x 'V4 + T. x Y5 + T. x V6 Where,
i = rnnos'ativeness
T = No. of technologies used by Santal women among selected 10 technologies
Y j = Adoption within 1 year of hearing (score-5) V2 = Adoption within 2 years of hearing (score-4)
= Adoption within 3 years of hearing (score-3) Y4 = Adoption within 4 years of hearing (score-2)
= Adoption after 4 years of hearing (score-i)
= No use of technologies (score-0)
Data obtained in response to item No. 8 of the interview schedule were added together to obtain the overall innovativeness score for a respondent. So, the possible innovativeness score of a respondent could range from 0 to 50, where '0' indicates no innovativeness and '50' indicates high innovativeness.
3.4.1.9 Knowledge on Agricu Ru ral Income Generating Activities
Knowledge of the Santal women on agricultural income generating activities (IGA) was measured in score by asking 15 selected questions related to various components of IGA. A full score I (one) was assigned for each correct answer and 0 (zero) score was assigned for the wrong answer. Therefore, for correct responses to all the questions a respondent could get a total score of '15', while for vrong responses to all the questions a respondent could get '0' However, the knowledge scorcs of
33
the respondents were computed by adding her scores for all the 15 items.
Thus, the knowledge score could range from '0' to '15', where '0' (zero) indicates 'no knowledge on agricultural IGA' and '15' indicates 'high knowledge on agricultural IGA'.
3.4.1.10 Attitude towards Agricultural Income Generating Activities The Santal women's attitude towards agricultural income generating activities (IGA) was other independent variable of the study.
Sixteen independent statements were carefully constructed to develop attitude scale. Basically, the Likert Method of Summated Ratings was used to serve the purpose. There were S positive and S negative statements in the scale. These statements were randomly arranged. A respondent was asked to indicate his opinion about each of the statements along with a five point scaling as 'strongly agree', 'moderately agree', 'no opinion', 'disagree' and 'strongly disagree'. Score assigned to above five statements were 4, 3, 2, 1 and 0 respectively. However, the scores were reversed for the negative statements. The attitude towards IGA score of a respondent was obtained by adding her scores for all the 16 statements. This score could range from '0' to '64', where '0' indicates most unfavourable attitude towards IGA and '64' indicates most favourable attitude towards IGA.
3.4.2 Measurement of Dependent Variable
Santal women generally perform a number of agricultural income generating activities within or outside the boundary of the homestead.
However, their participation in agricultural income generating activities has been confirmed to (i) homestead vegetable cultivation. (ii) post- harvest activities, (iii) poultry raising and (iv) goat rearing as dependent variables for the study. Before selecting the dependent variables, the
34
rcscarchcr reviewed available journals, research reports etc. from home and abroad. He also discussed with the resource personnel in this area and visitcd the study area for better identification of dependent variables.
3.4.2.1 Measurement of Participation of Santal Women in Agricultural Income Generating Activities (IGA)
To measure participation of the Santal women in four selected areas of agricultural income generating activities 10 items were selected under each of the IGA domain which are as follows:
a. Items of Participation in Homestead Vegetable Cultivation I. Land selection
Bed preparation using spade
Application of manures and fertilizers Sowing/transplanting
Mulching after transplanting of seedlings Irrigation/drainage
Veeding
I
viii. Support arrangement for creeper vegetables HarvestingCollection and preservation of seeds
h. Items of participation in post-harvest activities Threshing - Rice
- Other crops
\Vinnowing - Rice
- Other crops Drying - Rice
- Other crops Grading - Potato
- Other crops Storing - Rice
- Other crops 35
c. Items of participation in poultry raising Collection of chicken
Building poultry house Cleaning poultry house Feeding poultry birds
Collection and preservation of eggs Arrangement for hatching eggs Nursing the chickens
Arrangement for vaccination Selling eggs
Selling birds
d. Items of participation in goat rearing Procurement of modern breed of goat Guiding the flock/goats
Collection of leaves for feeding
Collection of goat from the field in evening Nursing the goats in pregnancy period Nursing the kids
Looking after the kids Clothing during winter Arrangement for vaccination Selling
Thus, 40 items were selected to measure Santal women's participation in agricultural IGA. The respondents were asked to indicate their extent of participation to each of the above 40 items along with a three-point scale: 'no participation', 'occasional participation' and 'regular participation'. The responses of these questions were given scores of '0', ' 1' and '2' respectively. The participation score of it Santal woman was obtained by summing her scores for all the 40 items of the selected 4 (four) areas of agricultural income generating activities (IGA) which are homestead vegetable cultivation, post-harvest activities, poultry raising and goat rearing. Thus, the participation score of a Santal
36
woman for all the 4 (four) areas of IGA could rangc from '0' to '80', where '0' (zero) indicated 'no participation' and '80' indicated 'regular participation'.
3.4.2.2 Mea.surement of Participation Index
For better understanding of comparative participation of the Santal women on selected 40 (forty) items of [GA, a Participation Index (131) was computed using the following formula:
P1 = (P x 0) + (P x I) + (P, x 2)
\Vhe re,
= Percentage of the Santal women with no participation
= Percentage of the Santal women with occasional participation PrV = Percentage of the Santal women with regular participation
The Participation Index (P1) could range from '0' to '200' for every item of IGA, where '0' indicated 'no participation' and '200' indicated 'regular participation'.
3.5 Measurement of Problem Confrontation Index (PCI)
The Santal women of the study area might have faced various types of problems in participating in agricultural income generating activities (IGA). But the investigator gained an experience through personal contact regarding common problems faced by the respondents at the time of data collection. Besides, the researcher gained knowledge through consultation with experts, pit-testing experience and reviewing previous research findings. Finally, he prepared a list of ten possible problems in this regard. A scale was prepared to indicate the extent to' which each of the Len problems was applicable in the case of a respondent. The responses vcrc obtained through a 5-point scale: 'strongly agree', 'moderately
37
agree', 'undecided', 'disagree' and 'strongly disagree' and weights were assi gned to these responses as '4', '3', '2', '1' and '0' respectively.
To measure Problem Confrontation Index the following 10 (ten) items were selected:
Lack of knowledge
Lack of necessary agricultural land Lack of capital
Lack of quality seed
Lack of sufficient fertilizers Lack of sufficient insecticides
Lack of extension workers
Lack of marketing opportunities Lack of transportation facilities
Lack of co-operation from male partner
The Problem Confrontation Index (PCI) were computed using the following formula:
PC! = (P1 x 0) + (P2 x 1) + (P3 x 2) + (P4 x 3) + (Ps x 4)
\Vhere,
P1 =Pereentage of Santal women who strongly agreed with the problem P2 =Percentagc of Santal women who moderately agreed with the problem P3 =Percentage of Santal women who gave no opinion about the problem P4 =Percentage of Santal women who disagreed with the problem
P5 =Percentagc of Santal women who strongly disagreed with the problem
To determine comparative importance of those ten problems, a PC!
score was computed for each of the ten problems by summing UI) the weights assigned for responses of all the respondents against each
39
problem. Problem Confrontation Index (PCI) of a specific problem could range from '0' to '400', where '0' indicated 'no problem confrontation' and '400' indicated Ihe 'high problem confrontation'.
3.6 Statement of the Hypothesis
As defined by Goode and I-latE (1952), "A hypothesis, which can be put to a test to determine its validity. It may see contrary to, or in accord with common sense. It may prove to be correct or incorrect. In any event, however, it leads to an empirical test". In studying the relationship between variables, research hypothesis are formulated which state the anticipated relationship between the variables. However, for statistical test it becomes necessary to formulate null hypothesis. A null hypothesis states that there is no relationship between the variables. If a null hypothesis is rejected on the basis of a statistical test, it is assumed that there is a relationship between the concerned variables.
The null hypothesis can be assumed for this study as - "there was no relationship between the Santal women's selected characteristics and their participation in agricultural income generating activities". The characteristics were: age, level of education, family size, farm size, family annual income, cosmopol iteness, extension contact, innovativeness, knowlcdge on agricultural income generating activities and attitude towards agricultural income generating activities.
3.7 Instrument for Data Collection
In order to collect relevant information from the respondents, an interview schedule was used. The schedule was carefully designed keeping the objectives of the study in view. The schedule contained both opet, closed and multiple choice questions. Most easy, simple direct
39
ques
