ศูนย์นวัตกรรมเทคโนโลยีหลังการเก็บเกี่ยว

Women farmers: a target group for agricultural extension.

Wijeratne, M.

Beitrage zur Tropischen Landwirtschaft und Veterinarmedizin Year: 1992 Vol: 30 Issue: 3 Pages: 243-250 Ref: 15 ref.

1992

บทคัดย่อ

The study reports on a survey of female labour in rice production in the district of Matara, southern Sri Lanka. It assesses the state of knowledge transfer deployed by formal dissemination systems. A sample of 50 women farmers was questioned just after the harvesting period of the Yala (March-August) season 1990. A series of exploratory studies was also undertaken in the labour-demanding stages of rice cultivation. Results show that among the major cultural practices carried out in rice culture, women are highly involved in plant establishment, weeding, harvesting, and postharvest operations. For each of these practices, the female labour contribution is more than 50% of the total labour requirement. Despite their involvement in rice production, women did not receive the opportunity to upgrade their knowledge through the formal dissemination system. It is concluded that women's contribution to agricultural production should receive prime consideration, and research and extension strategies must be oriented towards this target group. Such efforts will facilitate attempts to increase net farm returns in the peasant sector.