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Coping Mechanisms of Women Against Risks in Farm Households: Reflections from Bangladesh

Shahnaj Parveen
Dept. of Agril. Ext. Edn, BAU, Mymensingh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

This paper explored different risks faced by the women in farm households and elucidated various coping mechanisms employed by them to reduce such risks. The study was conducted in three villages of Mymensingh District in Bangladesh. Data were collected from randomly selected 156 farmers’ wives of these villages during January-April 2003. The personal interview, group discussion and case study methods were used for this purpose. Seven household risks, including natural calamities, conflicts, financial constraints due to crop failure, indebtedness, food unavailability, chronic illnesses and torture by husbands were critically examined. A 4-point rating scale was used to measure coping strategies applied by the women. The results showed that the women encountered mainly economic, health, sociocultural and seasonal risks within the farm households. Selling off assets and nurturing social networks were the main adjustment mechanisms the women applied for reducing various risks. However, it was extremely difficult for them to cope with risks like shortage of food and financial constraints. In order to handle such risks effectively in the farm household, it was necessary to empower women by applying multiple viable strategies through development agencies and local community leaders. Cooperation within households and logical support by development agencies during the risk period was also important.

Keywords: Women, Coping mechanisms, Farm household, Risks, Bangladesh.

Location: Three villages of Mymensingh District in Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-01-2003

End Date: 00-04-2003

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Non-commodity: Evaluation

Objectives:

This study was, therefore, intended to address the following three key questions: a) What were the prominent risks to farm women in the household? b) How did the farm women respond to these risks? and c) What were the appropriate strategies for reducing farm women’s household risks? It was expected from this study that the farm women could enhance their abilities to adapt with household adversities if productive resources and other relevant facilities were available to them by social and legal institutions during emergencies. It would lead to empower women through their enhanced self-confidence, bargaining power, income and assets.

Methodology:

The study area: The study was conducted in three villages, namely Sutiakhali, Bijoynagar and South Charkalibari of Sadar Upazila of Mymensingh District in Bangladesh. The villages were selected purposively by considering their infrastructural facilities, settlement status and number of development organisations accessed to these villages. Basic information about these villages were collected by the researcher herself through informal discussions with development personnel and local key persons. Sutiakhali is situated on the southern side, at a distance of about four kilometres from the Upazila Headquarters (UH) and South Charkalibari is located at a distance of about 2.5 km from the UH in the south-eastern direction. Both villages are on the bank of the Brahmaputra River. Bijoynagar, situated on the northeast border, is approximately 12 kilometres away from the UH, directed to MymensinghKishorganj highway. Data collection Data were collected from randomly selected 156 farmers’ wives in the period of January to April 2003 using both qualitative and quantitative methods. First, three group discussion sessions were arranged in each village, each group consisted of ten respondents. The semistructured questionnaire was used for this purpose to understand different risks encountered by the respondents, their various coping mechanisms and perceptions of mitigating such risks. A pre-tested and refined structured questionnaire was used in face-to-face interviews with 156 farm women to illicit information about respondents’ personal profiles and their coping mechanisms against specific household risks. Three case studies were also completed to have greater in-depth information about coping behaviour of the farm women.

Measuring procedure of coping strategies Seven important household risks were identified through group discussions including natural calamities, financial constraints due to crop failure, indebtedness, food unavailability, chronic illnesses, conflicts and torture by husbands. A range of coping strategies employed by farm women was also explored for each of the seven risk and these strategies were ranked by the respondents in three groups. These strategies were further rated by ten experienced social researchers. The calculated average score for each item was used to select four strategies for each of seven risks. The total selected coping strategies were 28. Thus, a four-point rating scale (1-4) was used to measure the coping strategies of the respondents for each household risk, where 1 indicated ‘the best strategy’ and 4 indicated ‘the least suitable strategy’. Each respondent was asked to choose one strategy for each risk during face-to-face interviews. Finally, a rank order was constructed for seven risks based on item-wise mean score.

Source of Information: Bangladesh Journal of Extension Education, 13: 63-69.

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Achievement/Findings:

The central lesson from the foregoing information and discussion underlined the demand for designing a viable mechanism for coping against risks in farm households. Ensuring women’s access to resources, institutions and livelihood opportunities would undoubtedly influence positively on the issue. It was imperative for the various stakeholders to develop as well as apply multiple corrective measures to cope with risk situations especially when they face in farm households. Logical support and proper capacity building, cooperation within households and development agencies were also necessary to address this issue in a more befitting manner.

Knowledge Management: Journal