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Activity Patterns and Wage Earning Profile of the Female Agricultural Laborers in Northern Bangladesh

Mohammad Zamirul Islam
Associate Professor Department of Social Work University of Rajshahi-6205.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

This study investigates how the rural female takes part in nation building process by their selling labor to agriculture. To conduct this research, social survey method has been followed and data were collected from 385 female agricultural laborers from the study area, using multi stage sampling. Findings of the study showed that more than 90% of the respondents were engaged themselves in agriculture. The respondents from 31 to 40 years of age had a high rate of participation in agricultural activities and they earn the highest amount of wage. Participation of female from nuclear family was much more (76.9%) in agriculture than those coming from joint family and a large portion of them (29.1%) had no dwelling house of their own. In Boro and Aman season, almost half of the respondents (44.7% and 45.9%) earned less than Tk.5000, and it was 81.65% in winter season. This paper, based on empirical data findings, recommends some policies for better participation of the agricultural female laborers in the rural Bangladesh.

Keywords: Wage Earning Profile, Female Agricultural Laborers, Northern Bangladesh

Location: Dinajpur district, the granary of Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Non-commodity: Income generation

Objectives:

1) To describe the socio-demographic characteristics of the female agricultural laborers of Bangladesh; 2) To investigate the types of activities and their wage earning profile in different seasons; and 3) To estimate seasonal income variations of the female laborers in the study area.

Methodology:

Study design: It is a cross sectional study. In this study, the author considered Dinajpur district, the granary of Bangladesh, as study area. A pre-tested interview schedule was used to collect information from the study subject (female agricultural laborers). Sampling procedure: Multistage sampling procedure was used to select the study area. In the first stage, four upazilas were randomly selected out of thirteen upazilas of Dinajpur district. In the second stage, four unions, each from every upazila were selected out of the unions of the selected four upazilas. In the third stage, twelve villages were randomly selected (every three villages from each union) from the selected four unions. Sample units: Female agricultural laborers were the sample units of the study. Based on the number of the respondents of the study villages, they were drawn in the sample proportionately. Not more than one adult female (aged 16 and above) laborer was chosen into sample from each family. Data collection period: The data were collected during the period of June 01, 2013 - August 31, 2013 as it was the end of the main season of Bangladesh agriculture. The author actively participated in the data collection during this period. He also guided and supported other data collectors at the time of data collection. Reliability and validity of data: In order to test the internal consistency of the collected data, the Cronbach's Alpha test was considered to test the reliability. The value of the test was 0.92 which indicated a high level of internal consistency. Study variable: Socio-demographic variables like age, sex, income, family type, family head, amount of land, membership with NGOs, participation in training etc. are the study variables. Besides, for analyzing wage variations, different type of agriculture works along with the three seasons are taken into consideration. Data analysis: This study simply focuses on unearthing the wage earning nature of the female agricultural laborers of Bangladesh. Descriptive statistics such as frequency distributions, means and standard deviations were used in the study to show the wage earning profile of the respondents. For the analysis of data, statistical software SPSS 20 version was used. Ethical consideration: In respect to ethical consideration, oral permission from the respective participants and their families was received.

Source of Information: Social Science Journal, No. 21, 2017

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Female are good partners for the socio-economic development of the country. Study showed that a large number of rural female of the age group of 31-40 got involvement in agriculture. Of them a small number had training with the connection to NGOs. In Boro and Aman seasons, about half of the respondents belong to low income group and it was about 83.86% in winter season. It is clearly indicated that female laborers in agriculture were getting very low wage with the investment of high potentials. Their training for agricultural works is also remained neglected in the study area. They are undoubtedly a striking force for rural agriculture economy. So their potentialities should be tapped into national income and recognition for their identity should also be given in the national census of the country. A law regarding the welfare of the female agriculture laborers of the Bangladesh should be enacted by the government so that welfare for them can be ensured.

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