Agricultural Research Management Information System

Home
Research Summary
Search
About Us
- ARMIS
- Brochure
Contact Us
Report
User Request
Data Input
Help
- Operation Manual
  - PDF
  - Video
- Program Area & Commodity
We have reached 37600 number of research entries at this moment.

- Logout

Research Detail

Home
Research
Detail

Impact Assessment of Asa Credit Program on Livelihoods and Empowerment of Poor Women in a Selected Area of Bangladesh

Mohammad Ataur Rahman
Department of Agricultural Finance, Bangladesh Agri cultural University, Mymensingh

Md. Mehedi Hasan
Department of Agricultural Finance, Bangladesh Agri cultural University, Mymensingh

A S M Golam Hafeez
Department of Agricultural Finance, Bangladesh Agri cultural University, Mymensingh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The premise of Association for Social Advancement (ASA) philosophy equating microfinance as a tool to poverty alleviation. Small and medium size loans to the poor enables them to use in various income generating activities and raise family income which, in turn, helps reduce their poverty. The present study examined the adequacy, purposes and utilization patterns of credit, assessed the impact of credit on livelihoods and empowerment of the beneficiaries and, identified the problems and constraints of the beneficiaries to obtain credit. With these views in mind, data were collected randomly from 60 respondents who were involved in different income generating activities (IGAs) from eight villages under Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha district. Survey method was followed to collect required data. Tabular technique was applied for the analysis of data and sustainable livelihood framework was used for the analysis of household assets. The major findings of the study were that average amount of credit received by the respondents was Tk 17,550, main purposes of the loan were petty business and purchasing dairy cows; which were 40% and 18.33%, respectively. Only dairy loan was 100% utilized according to the purpose. There was a remarkable change of livelihood assets after joining with the ASA credit program. The ASA credit program also found to have significant positive effects on women’s social empowerment indicators namely, attitude towards their daughter’s education, mobility outside house, participation and decision making ability. High interest rate, lack of sufficient credit, shortage of grazing land was the main problems of the ASA credit program. Women can contribute significantly to the socioeconomic improvement of the family if proper atmosphere as well as facilities can be ensured. The present study suggests for conducting further study of similar type in other parts of the country to make the findings representative one.

Keywords: Credit, Livelihoods, Women empowerment, ASA,

Location: Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha

Start Date: 01-01-2015

End Date: 31-12-2015

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Non-commodity: Employement, Gender issue

Objectives:

To determine the adequacy, purposes and utilization patterns of credit;
To investigate into the impact of credit on livelihoods and empowerment of the beneficiaries; and
To identify the problems and constraints of the beneficiaries faced to obtain credit.

Methodology:

Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha in Bangladesh was selected purposively. The study was conducted eight villages named-, Fulbari, Bamonkuri, Kuthibari, Pargoyra, Ghose Para, Vagdhoria, Rasulpur, and Shibpur. Random sampling technique was applied for sample selection of this study. A total 60 beneficiaries was selected and conducted direct face to face interview by using semi - structure questionnaire. The period covered in this study was 1^st January to 31^st December/2015. Data were collected during the month of March and April, 2015. Data were presented mostly in tabular form. To examine the impact of credit on livelihoods and empowerment of the beneficiaries, livelihood approaches can be easily modified to provide a framework for the analysis of chronically poor households through a series of features using the household approach of identifying household assets or capitals within the wider social and economic transforming processes of community institutions and obligations, legal framework and market structures. Sustainable livelihoods (SL) thinking gained ground in the Department for International Development (DFID) poverty reduction efforts in the 2000s. The guiding assumption of the DFID approach is that people pursue a range of livelihood outcomes by which they hope to improve or increase their livelihood assets and to reduce their vulnerability. The five types of assets that form the core of livelihood resources in the DFIDSL framework range. The model breaks access into the five ‘capitals’: 1. Human capital (e.g. education, health); 2. Social capital (e.g. community networks); 3. Natural capital (e.g. land); 4. Physical capital (e.g. infrastructure like markets and roads); and 5. Financial capital (e.g. access to credit).

Source of Information: Fundamental and Applied Agriculture, 2016, 1(1): 7-11

Article Link (Online Journal): http://www.f2ffoundation.org/faa/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/FAA-2016-002_Tech-Editor.pdf

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The ASA as a non-government organization for the poor and small landholding groups may be considered genuine to take care of them though it might have some constraints. The beneficiaries received credit mostly in accordance with their requirement. Loan money received from ASA has been utilized, mostly for productive purposes. Women might be good associates of the socioeconomic development of the family as well as of the country. They can contribute significantly to the socioeconomic improvement of the family if proper atmosphere as well as facilities can be ensured. Women attitude towards female education have favorably changed. Provision of credit is an important element for involving the rural women in income generating and development activities.

Knowledge Management: Journal