IMPACT OF VALUE CHAIN PROGRAM ON WOMEN BENEFICIARIES UNDER POLLISREE

Abstract

The main focus of this study was to determine and describe the socio-demographic characteristics of the women beneficiaries of Pollisree, to determine the impact and explore the difference in the changes of the condition of the women beneficiaries on the following aspects: changes in the social participation of women beneficiaries and changes in decision making of women beneficiaries, to explore the relationships between impact of value chain and selected characteristics of women beneficiaries and to determine the problems in implementing value chain and suggestions to overcome the problems. The study was carried out in Ghoraghat upazila of Dinajpur District. Ninety two (92) respondents were selected as sample from an updated list of 184 women beneficiaries using simple random sampling method. Data were collected by a pre-tested interview schedule during 1" March to 15" April 2014. Value chain program had greater impact to the social participation of women beneficiaries under pollisree. Women beneficiaries of Pollisree got a greater opportunity to increase their decision making ability after introduce of value chain program. Pearson Product Moment Correlation Co-efficient analysis indicated that out of eight selected characteristics of the women beneficiaries savings, attitude towards Pollisree, training received and aspiration have significant positive relationships with the impact of value chain. ‘Lack of skill among women beneficiaries’ (90.22 percent) emerged as the most important problem opined by the women beneficiaries. The least (56.52 percent) perceived problem mentioned by the respondent was ‘getting of whole seller in value chain market system is difficult’. Foremost (78.26 percent) suggestion cited by the women beneficiaries was ‘organization of seminar, workshop in a regular interval’. ‘Relation building training between husband and wife may be increased’ (55.43percent) was suggested by the women as the last suggestion to overcome the problems.