PARTICIPATION OF THE TMSS WOMEN BENEFICIARIES AT FARM LEVEL ACTIVITIES IN SADAR UPAZILA OF JOYPURHAT DISTRICT

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to describe 11 selected characteristics of the TMSS women beneficiaries, to determine the extent of participation of the TMSS women beneficiaries at farm level activities, to explore the relationship between the selected characteristics of the TMSS women beneficiaries and their participation at farm level activities and to identify the problems faced by the TMSS women beneficiaries regarding their participation at farm level activities. Data were collected using interview schedule from a sample of 99 TMSS women beneficiaries selected by multistage random sampling procedure from 14 samities of sadar upazila of Joypurhat district during 15 September to 16 October, 2017. Eleven selected characteristics of the TMSS women beneficiaries namely age, educational qualification, family size, farm size, annual income, agricultural training received, credit received, cosmopoliteness, extension media exposure, duration of involvement with TMSS and attitude towards TMSS while their participation at farm level activities constituted the focus issue. The focus issue was measured based on three aspects of farm level activities namely crop cultivation, livestock and poultry rearing and homestead plantation and finally overall agricultural participation was determined by summing up these aspects. Among the 12 selected crop production activities the highest two participated activities were drying and husking of paddy and wheat and grading the products. Among the 8 selected livestock and poultry rearing activities the highest two participated activities were feeding cattle and goat and cleaning cowshed. Among the 7 selected homestead plantation activities the highest two participated activities were timely plantation of saplings and timely irrigation. In case of overall participation, highest proportion (54.5 percent) of the TMSS women beneficiaries had medium participation compared to 29.3 percent low and 16.2 percent high. Among the 11 selected characteristics three namely age, extension media exposure and attitude towards TMSS showed positive significant relationship with the focus issue while family size showed negative significant relationship. Remaining seven characteristics namely educational qualification, farm size, annual income, agricultural training received, credit received, cosmopoliteness and duration of involvement with TMSS were not correlated. The top two problems faced by the respondents in participating farm level activities were lack of regular irrigation program and insufficiency of training about ideal seedbed preparation. In case of overall problem confrontation, highest proportion (53.5 percent) of the respondents confronted low problem compared to 34.3 percent medium and only 12.1 percent high.