CCS HARYANA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY Synopsis of Thesis/Dissertation

Problem of Post-Graduate Student M.Sc./Ph.D.

Name of the student: Urmila

Admission No. 2002HS110D

Major Subject: Home Science

Minor subject- Human Development

Extension Education & Family Student

Major Advisor: Dr. (Mrs.) A. Malaviya, Professor

Title of the research problem
TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION SOURCE UTILIZATION PATTERN OF WOMEN
FARMERS IN HARYANA
Objectives of investigation
Introduction
Women constitute half the world's population accomplish about two-third of its
working hours, receive one-tenth of the worlds income and own less than one-hundredth of
the world's property (Gupta, 198-7). Agriculture is the mainstay of nation's economy
especially rural Community of the Haryana state. In rural areas, women are equally the bread
earners of the family and work as much as men in various agricultural operations. A large
number of farm women are engaged in farming operations either as cultivators or helpers to
cultivators or agricultural labourers .
Women participate in most of the agriculture operations like manuring, land
preparation, Sowing of seeds, transplanting, weeding applying fertilizer s, taking care of
standing crops, harvesting, threshing carrying the produce from farm to home, storage of food
grains, cattle care and preparation of manure pit. The success or failure of a farm depends
mainly on the contribution made by farm women (Seema Rani et al, 2002).
In Haryana (Promila el al., 2002) majority of the landless women respondent's
participation was found in the activities like harvesting (2.39), weeding (2.38), seed selection
(1.95), seed treatment (1.90) and, transplanting (1.65). Most of the activities related to
farming were mostly performed by women respondents -jointly with male members
irrespective of the land holding categories. Female member played a major role in
individually in weeding and harvesting operations and Seema et al. (2002) concluded that
maximum time spent by rural women during peak period was on farm related activities
followed by kitchen and other household activities.
Haryana constitute 2.05 percent of India's population. The total population of
Haryana was 9755331 of which 6951228 belonged to rural areas and 2804103 belonged to
urban areas (Census of India, 2001). Haryana is predominantly an agricultural state, with
agriculture Contributing nearly 30 per cent of State's income. Rural women in the state
constitute 47 per cent of the total female population and about 68 per cent of the total female

work force. Of the total female labour force in the state 82 per cent are engaged in agricultural
sector either as cultivators or as agricultural labour (Bimla el al., 2003).
There is a common belief that one female labour is equivalent to two-third or
three-fourth as of male lal)oui-. Studies from Haryana state indicated that women do every
kind of field work except driving the plough. She helps tile. nien ill preparing the field for
sowing, making embankments in the fields, weeding and hoeing, winnowing, plucking maize
cots and stripping sugarcane before crushing, carrying heavy load of fodder crops oil her head
to the home, putting the food grains in stores and looking after these to avoid any dam page
and pilferage, cooking food, caring about Children, managing fuel, water for home, looking
after domestic animals and chaffing the fodder, cleaning animal sheds, preparing the animal
feed, milching animals; filling the manure pits and making cow dung cakes are all done by
rural women. All this make them busy from early morning, till late in the evening (Seema et
al., 2003).
In Haryana rural women in agricultural activities was to the extent of 73 per cent. A
woman spends 74 minutes to 413 minutes per day in doing her agricultural work. Women
play a vital role in rice agricultural development and allied field including removing of stalks
(69.5%) and transplanting (59.0%) involving maximum participation of the women (Bimla el
al., 2003).
Farm women spend maximurn time (10.8 hours) in farm activities during peak agricultural
season (Seema el al., 2002).
It is evident from the researches conducted and figures obtained as well as
experiences gained that women are the key persons in agricultural production. The role
played by women and their contribution in various economic activities in the developing
countries have been ignored until recent years. In our country only nien are exposed to
formal/infori-nal education through technological information sources such as mass media
sources like electronic India, print media, k1san inelas, exhibition. traditional media and
interpersonal communication, trainings, results and methods demonstration, etc.
From the above account, it is very clear that even though farmers are in large number
and can p6rform almost all farming operations. but they are not exposed directly to
technological information sources. Whatever information women get for farmer operations,
they get either through men of the family or any other women farmers who is also indirectly
updated in technological information. In order to have effective and efficient contribution of
women farmers on their farms, it is very important that technological information sources are
available to them directly without any mediation.
In view of the importance of women farmer's direct access to technological
information sources, it was felt rationale to take tip a research project entitled, Technological

information source utilization pattern of women farmers in Haryana with the following
tentative objectives:
1.

To study the technological needs of the women farmers

2.

To assess the technological information sources utilization pattern of farm women.

3.

To find out crucial factors contributing to technological information source utilization

pattern.

A brief resume of work done in India and abroad

Participation of women in farming
Verma et al. ( 1994) Concluded that women had the highest level of involvement in
wheat production followed by pulse and rice production. Women were found to have a high
-level of involvement in threshing, storage, harvesting and picking activities, less involvement
in sowing, irrigation, manuring and plant protection and no involvement in preparatory
tillage.
Patel et al. (1995) revealed that land weeding got highest mean score followed by
transplanting, harvesting/ winnowing/ threshing, sowing/ planting, storac-1,e of grains,
manuring, marketing of raw produce, fertilizer application, irrigation and ploughing.
Singh et al. ( 1996) observed that participation of women in post harvest operations
was higher as compared to their participation ill preharvest operations. Involvement of
respondents in livestock related activities was also very high.
Tewari et al. ( 1996) found that in agricultural operations, women's joint participation
was upto 75 percent, whereas their sole participation was limited to 30 per cent. Their
participation in livestock based activities was between 60 and 80 per cent with a maximum of
90 per cent.
Khatik and Pandey ( 1997) observed that 36 per cent of farm women were having
high level of involvement ill work during sugarcane cultivation operations.
Dahiya et al. (1997) reported that involvement of women ill Postharvest operation
such as threshing flour, winnowing, storing hay activities, etc., was very high.
Batish and Oberai (1998) reflected that the different activities in which Punjab
women participated were cutting of crops, picking of cotton, storage of grains, etc.
Tandon and Sawliney ( 1999) pointed that most of the women were participating in
all agricultural operations for food grains, vegetable crops production, produce handling and
their sub-activities, except -in some sub-activities like! land preparation operations.

Seema et al. (1999) revealed that women respondents were mainly responsible for
post-harvest activities like cleaning (37.5%), drying (27.5%) and storage (59.9%) of
household consumption Jointly with other female members of the family.
Chand and Sharma (1999) reported that a large percentage of the women respondents
had engaged themselves in earthing up of seedlings/ fruit plants, liarvesting/picking of fruits,
sowing, weed control and digging of pits. Participation in plantation and pesticidal operation
was very low.
Charian et al. (2000) reported that most of the women of landless families were
working, as paid farm labours in unskilled operations, like weeding, harvesting, cleaning,
drying and storage for household consumption, transplanting, etc. Joint participation of
female with male was found dominant.
Brah and Kalita (2002) pointed that among the farm activities women's participation
was highest in cutting. cent per cent respondents of landless category involved themselves in
transplanting operations.
Bimla et al. (2003) observed that maximum participation in weeding (70.5%),
interculturing (70.5%), cutting and uprooting activities '69.5%). heaping (58.5%) followed by
threshing (60.5%), crushing (63.0%), cleaning (67.0%) and bagging (43.0%) was by the
women farmers.
Farming technological needs of women farmers
Sailja and Reddy (1996) reported that farm women preferred training needs in skill of
management, breeding, cultivation of fodder crops, feeding of yoting tock, health and
sanitation.
Nataraju et al,. ( 1997) reported that farm women needed training in major areas of
mango cultivation, like propagation, plant protection, credit improved varieties fertilizer, time
and method of planting, manures, pruning, harvest and post-harvest techniques.
Rao (2001) revealed that women expressed the need for regular training on improved
agricultural technologies like seeds, fertilizer implements, etc., and also felt need for an
information

centre

on

the

availability

of

tools

and

equipments

'and

new

technologies/techniques.
Technological information sources to women farmers
Babu and Galewar (1994) revealed that telecast relating to demonstration of new
skills and methods was best presented methods through television as compared to radio.
Munda ( 1995) observed that the fish farmers preferred the lectures in combination with
discussion, demonstration practical, field trip and Write-up were preferred as methods of
training.

Bareth and Intodia (1996) revealed that small and marginal grain ",rowing farm.
Women used more frequently the information sources like "VEIA"', friends, relatives and
progressive farmers.
Kurnar ( 1996) pointed that fisheries officers were frequently used source of
information by fish farm women being reliable.
Dahiya et al. (1997) reported that training, on safe grain storage was imparted with
combination of media which showed very high involvement in threshing and storage
activities.
Neelain et al. (1998) revealed that (farm women ) respondents had need to get
training in the area of agriculture and animal husbandry. 'While only 50 percent had need in
allied areas which included mushroom cultivation, bee keeping, etc. and farm women were
also need to get training in the area of protection of crops, production of crops and processing
of produce.
Ogunwale and Loagun (1998) revealed that there was need for proper selection and
combination of both and mass media methods to reach farmers in order to expose them to
farm. information and technologies and ultimately influence adoption of new farm practices.
Peshin et al..(1998) revealed that in the process of transfer of agricultural
technologies non-verbal communication behaviour used as a significant source of
information. Farming women used non-verbal aids such as picture, models, maps, graphs,
television or multicolored periodicals etc.
Ogunwala and Laogun (1998) observed that village extension workers constituted the
most used source of information and technologies. Other sources used by farm women
includes friends., neighbours. demonstration sites and programme contact farmers.
Lavina el al. ( 1999) reflected that training prograninies plays a vital role for
increasing production and found that trained farmers obtained higher yield of wheat, bajra and
mustard crops as compared to untrained farmers.
Ojha et al. (1999) reported that all the traditional media (a combination of pa.d +
kavad+ puppet) and lecture methods were used for effective gained and retention of
knowledge of respondents for transfer of balance use of fertilizer technology in major crops.
Malik et al. (2000) revealed that source which disseminate new information used by
women

farmers

including

research

institution.

(Yoverninent,

extension

agencies.

non-government organization, input dealers, mass media. etc.

Singh and Nande (2000) reported that a curriculum module should be prepared to
train the fish farmers. The training programme should be organized for a period of 15 days
preferably. Multimedia approach should be used to train the fish farmers.
Information sources utilization pattern of farm women

Babu and Galewar ( 1994) revealed that telecast relating to demonstration of new
skills and methods was best presented method through television as compared to radio. Most
of the farm women use the television as a source of information.
Kakrety and Singh (1994) revealed that radio was found to be the most popular mass
media among 73.72 per cent respondents followed by television, cinema, newspaper and
films. Agricultural magazine were not used to gain information in the village.
Jha and Singh (1999) reported that the farmers do not have any easy access to the
modern means of mass communication, and at the same time, interpersonal channels of
communication being more credible as compared with mass media channels and also found
that farmers are more inclined towards the use of interpersonal channels of communication.
Gosain el al. (2000) revealed that 49.34 per cent of the total farm women used
transistor/radio for listening to farm radio programmes. About 70.68 per cent were reading
newspapers and 36.0 per cent of farm women watch the Krishi Darshan Programme.
Factors contributing to technological information source utilization pattern of wornen
farmers
Patel et al. (1995) reflected that there was no relationship of age with overall extent of
contribution in agricultural operations. But education, caste, type of family, size of family,
number of their working family members, social participation, socio-economic status, annual
family income, size of landholding, herd size had significant relationship with overall extent
of contribution in agricultural operations.
Devendrapa. el al. (1995) revealed that -utilization of inforniation and discussion after
listening the farm broadcast of the respondents were positive and highly significantly related
to their listening behaviour
Agunwale and Laogun (1998) reported that there was no significant relationship
between age of farmers and the total number of sources of farm information and technologies
us ed in the programmes.
Tamuli and Kakti (1999) revealed that family size, age. annual income, knowledge
and attitude and social participation were found to be non-significant with the extent of
utilization of information sources in respect of non-progressive farm women, but all the above
independent variables were found to have significant correlation in respect of progressive
farm women.
Seema el al. (2000) revealed that the age, family occupation, economic factors and
social factors had positive and significant relationship with participation in major cash crop
production activities while family education, land holding and social factors did not establish
any relation.

Information source-s will be studied tentatively on parameters such as name of the

source of information, agency of source, availability, used individually/in combination,
method of availability, frequency of availability, frequency of use, duration of use,
satisfaction in use, and need for repeated use, etc.
Constraints in technical information source
Constraints in technical information source will be studded in terms of quality and
quantity of information available and quality/quantity of information source availability, etc.
Ways to overcome constraints
Ways and means to overcome constraints will also be taken from women farmers.
Factors contributing technological information source utilization pattern
Independent variables/factors affecting to technological information source utilization
pattern tentatively are given below:
(a)

Socio-economic and personal variables- Age, caste, occupation, education, social

participation. land holding. family type, family size. number of children, herd size,
milching animals, deposits/borrowings and material possession of the respondents.

(b)

Psychological variables: Innovation proneness, risk orientation, economic motivation,

conservatism liberalism, fatalism scienticism.

(c)

Communication variables: Information source, mass media exposure, outside/urban

contact, extension contact. (d) Situational variables: Cropping pattern and farming
system.
Technological information source utilization pattern will form the dependent variable.

Data collection
Guided interview schedule duly pretested incorporating the above components will be
used personally for the study.
Analysis and interpretation of data
The qualitative data will be quantified according to the standard laid down and
tabulated to draw the meaningful information by suitable statistical technique.
Collaboration with other Departments
1.

Department of Mathinatics and Statistics

2.

Department of Human Development and Family Studies

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