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Women’s Participation in Small Ruminant Rearing and Household Decision Making Process at Banshkhali Upazila in Chattogram District

Meherunnesa Chowdhury Sumy
Department of Agricultural Economics and Social Sciences, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Khulshi, Chattogram 4225, Bangladesh

Md. Manirul Islam
Department of Animal Science and Nutrition, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Khulshi, Chattogram 4225, Bangladesh

Fakir Azmal Huda
Department of Agricultural Economics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study was carried out to examine participation of women in small ruminant rearing and household decision making process at Banshkhali Upazila in Chattogram. Four villages were purposively selected based on the density of small ruminant rearing. Data were collected from 50 households using random sampling method with a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistic, Participation Index and Logistic Regression Analysis were used to analyse the data. The results of the study showed that (36%) young women were engaged in small ruminant rearing (26-35 age group) and major proportion of the respondents (46%) in the study areas were primary educated. About 52% of the respondents have a family size consisting of 6-10 members. Nearly half (46%) of the women involved in rearing small ruminants earned between BDT 12,000.00 - BDT 18,000.00 per annum. The participation index implies that large proportions of women were always participating in supplying water, feeding and providing fodder and cleaning barns/corrals/pens of small ruminants. Moreover, they were rarely participating in construction of house/barns/corrals/pens, rearing in confinement/partial-confinement/free ranges system and bringing animal to veterinary surgeon for vaccination purpose. In household condition, women involved in decision making for rearing livestock, marriage of children whereas rarely participate in activities such as selection of variety and inputs for agricultural production, education of children, purchase of household assets and have minimal participation in selling household assets, freedom of mobility. A logistic regression analysis revealed that women’s participation in household decision making process was negatively related with family size and farm size, but positively related with respondent’s income (P<0.05) and education (P<0.01). It may be concluded that higher the education and income of women, more the tendency of making household decisions alone.

Keywords: Household, Participation index, Small ruminant, Women

Location: Four villages (namely Sambol, South Sambol, Chanua and Shekerkhil) under Banshkhali Upazila of Chattogram district, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Resource Development and Management

Non-commodity: Income generation

Objectives:

The current study was conducted with the objectives of investigating women’s involvement in small ruminant rearing activities and their participation in household decisions at Banshkhali Upazila in Chattogram District.

Methodology:

The study was conducted in four villages (namely Sambol, South Sambol, Chanua and Shekerkhil) under Banshkhali Upazila of Chattogram district. Banshkhali Upazila is located at 22.05°N 91.94°E in Bangladesh. It has 55,609 households and a total area of 376.9 km². The areas were purposively selected based on density of small ruminant population. Data were collected from 50 women small ruminant rearers following random sampling method during November to December, 2019 through direct interviews using a structured questionnaire. A list of farm households in each village was obtained from the respective local district assemblies like Department of Livestock Services (DLS), and agriculture office. The information supplied by the women was recorded directly in the questionnaire. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected using household survey method. A survey schedule was developed and pre-tested for the study. Survey questionnaire was prepared in the light to the objectives of the study. The qualitative data were recorded using interview and observation method.

Analytical techniques: After data collection, the questionnaires were checked for completeness, cleaned, organized, coded and then entered into MS-Excel and STATA (Stata 14, Stata Statistical Software, Stata Corporation, College Station, Texas 77845 USA) for analysis. Both the descriptive and econometric methods were used to achieve the objectives. Income from small ruminant was defined as the total earning of respondent from small ruminant rearing during a year. Monthly family income was defined as the total earning of respondent and other members of the family from agriculture, livestock and non-agricultural sources (e.g., selling labour, service, business, remittance etc.) during a month. For measuring the participation index of the respondents about household decision making process, a 3-point Likert Scale was used. The scales were weighted in order of importance from; always involved=3, rarely involved=2, not at all=1. The respondents were asked to indicate their level of participation in small ruminant rearing and household activities. Ranking of different activities performed by rural women, the frequency of responses from each of the three point continuum of a specific activity under major activity was tabulated and multiplied by concerned score. Then they were added together to get the total score for each specific activity for the purpose of their ranking (Sailaja and Reddy, 2003). Participation score for each respondent was calculated by using the following formula: Participation Index (PI) = 3 × AI + 2 × RI + 1 × NAA Where, AI= Always Involved, RI=Rarely Involved, NAA= Not At All Logistic regression model was estimated using binary dependent variable. The binary variable was assigned the value 1 for decision that was taken by women alone and the zero otherwise.

Source of Information: J Bangladesh Agril Univ 19(1): 128–133, 2021 ISSN 1810-3030 (Print) 2408-8684 (Online)

Article Link (Online Journal): https://doi.org/10.5455/JBAU.26333

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Small ruminant rearing is an important sub-sector of agricultural economy that offers remarkable options for increasing family earnings through female’s contribution because it requires less initial cost of investment, less place and less take care. Socio- economic status of women small ruminant rearer (eg. their level of education, income) determined the extent of their involvement in livestock and household management activities. It appears from the study that most of the respondents rarely take their decision in different small ruminant raising and household activities. The contribution of women in different activities as well as in total family income was substantial. At present, women are participating in various agricultural and nonagricultural activities for improving their economic vulnerability. But their contribution is largely ignored in our patriarchal society. Women’s participation in household decision making process was negatively related with family size and farm size, but positively related with respondent’s income (P<0.05) and education (P<0.01). It indicates that educated and earner women were more empowered and have the tendency of taking household decisions alone. The age and experience of women in decision making was positive but the relationship was not significant. It was found from the research that to improve women’s economic condition, it is important to increase their participation in different income generating activities and household decision making events. The output of this study may layout proper directions to the researchers and policymakers for livelihood upliftment of women small ruminant rearers’ in Bangladesh.

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