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Use of Indigenous Farming Technologies in Crop Production by Rural Women of Mymensingh District

S. Sheheli
Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

M. M. Islam
Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

M. A. M. Miah
Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The main purposes of the study were to i) identify the Indigenous Farming Technologies (lFTs), ii) examine the extent of use of the identified lFTs as used by the rural women in crop production, and iii) explore the relationships between nine selected characteristics of rural women and their extent of use of IFTs. Data were collected from a sample of randomly selected 100 housewives from two villages, under Sadar upazila of Mymensingh district. A structured interview schedule was used for collection of data during September 12 to October 11, 2003. Eighteen IFTs were identified, which the rural women used in addition to scientific fanning technologies for performing crop production. The majority (53%) of the rural women were the moderate users of IFTs, while one-fourth (24%) of them were low users and 23%, high users. Among the selected characteristics, family size and annual income of the rural women had positive and significant relationships with their extent of use of IFTs in crop production.

Keywords: Indigenous farming technologies, Crop production, Rural women

Location: Bandamadan and Ponghara under Sadar upazila of Mymensingh district

Start Date: 12-09-2003

End Date: 11-10-2003

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Non-commodity: Education

Objectives:

To identify the commonly used indigenous farming technologies (lFTs) in crop production by rural women,

To examine the extent of use of indigenous farming technologies by the rural women in crop production,

To explore the relationship between selected characteristics of the rural women and their extent of use of IFTs in crop production, and

To identify the reasons of using IFTs in crop production.

Methodology:

Two villages, namely Bandamadan and Ponghara under Sadar upazila of Mymensingh district were the study areas. All the rural women of these two selected villages were the population of the study and the number of rural women were 500 (198 in Bandamadan and 302 in Ponghara). Twenty percent of the population i.e. 100 rural women were randomly selected from the both selected villages as the sample of the study from whom data were collected. Face to face interviewing by using the personal interview schedule was used to collect data during September 12 to October 11, 2003. Nine selected characteristics of the rural women such as age, level of education, family size, annual income, farm size, cosmopoliteness, organizational participation, extension media contact and rationality were considered as the independent variables of the study. These selected characteristics of the rural women were measured either by direct scoring or by developing appropriate scales. The dependent variable of the study was the extent of use of IFTs by the rural wom~en in crop production. This was measured by computing an IFT Use Score for each respondent, Eighteen IFTs in crop production were identified on the basis of field survey and consultation with the rural women of the study area. The extent of use of IFTs was measured by a four-point rating scale as: "frequently," "occasionally," "rarely" and "not at all" which was developed by Islam (1996). A numerical weight was given to each of the responses as 3,2, 1 and 0, respectively. The IFT Use Score of a respondent was obtained by summing her weights for all the eighteen enlisted IFTs. The IFT Use Scores of the rural women could range from 0 to 54, where 0 indicated no use of any of the IFTs and 54 indicated highest level of use of all the IFTs. An 1FT Use Index (IFTUI) was calculated to compare the extent of use of an individual IFT by the rural women.This IFTUI for each of the IFT could range from 0 to 300, 0 being the lowest and 300 the highest level of IFT use. The relationship between each of the selected characteristics of the rural W0111en and their extent of use of IFTs was tested by computing Pearson's Product-Moment Correlation Coefficients.

Source of Information: Progress. Agric. 15(1) : 49-56, 2004, ISSN 1017-8139

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

In the study area as many as 18 IFTs have been identified which are related to seed preservation, crop health and management. But the rural women, in many cases, were not properly aware about the proper use of these IFTs. Moreover, there seem to exist a lack of proper understanding among them about why and how to use these IFTs. In view of such facts it can, therefore, be concluded that the rural women could be benefited more if the IFTs could be improved further through the process of their integration with modern scientific knowledge. The proper use of indigenous farming technologies are contributory to the maintenance of sustainable agricultural development. But only 23 percent of the rural women had high use of the selected IFTs and an overwhelming majority (77 percent) were moderate to low users. These facts lead to the conclusion that there is a need to raise the awareness and knowledge levels of the rural women about the proper use of the IFTs with a view to maintain sustainable agricultural development in the study area. Family size of the rural women had a positive and significant relationship with their use of IFTs. The majority of the women (76 percent) had medium to large families. Thus it could be concluded that women with relatively larger family size are the major users of IFTs. As the large-sized families can provide extra lobour force for farm activities, particularly for the use of IFTs, these families need close attention for the policymakers and extension specialists in farming programmes regarding popularization of the use of IFIs. As the use of IFTs is complex in nature, and needs more labour force and proper understanding of their usefulness, it is assumed that women with higher annual income have good opportunity to use the IFTs. But only 8 percent of the rural women under the present study had high income and only 32 percent had medium income. On the other hand, considering the long-term sustainability, it could be said that use of IFTs in an important need for low income farming families. Thus, it could be concluded that formulation of proper strategy towards popularization of proven and worthy IFTs among low to medium income farm families is important for achieving sustainable agricultural development of Bangladesh.

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