Commercial Vegetable Farming and Its Impact on Women Empowerment: A Case Study on Hemja VDC Kaski

Abstract

This thesis report entitled Commercial Vegetable Farming and its Impact on Women Empowerment: AStudy on Hemja VDC Kaski District an analysis of women status in the study area. The main objectives of the study are to find out the socio-economic status of women in the study area, to determine the level of empowerment before and after commercial vegetable farming and in sum to identify the impactof commercial vegetable farming. This thesis also oriented to find out the women empowerment status in relation to awareness, capacity building, participation in resource mobilization and decision making that lead empowerment and also strengthening women’s institution leading to sustainability. The field survey was conducted in November _ December2011.Both primary and secondary data and various research techniques have been used. Both quantitative and qualitative information have been collected from the field. The study was based on exploratory and descriptive research design. Field study was undertaken using questionnaire, group discussion and checklist. This study is oriented to find the socio economic condition and problems of women from adopting the commercial vegetable production.The study was carried out in Hemja VDC. The majority of the settle men tare Brahmin followed by Chhetri, Dalit and others. In the study area the total population of female is 5519 out of them 1085 women are adopting commercial vegetable farming. Among the women farmers only 50 women farmers were selected purposively. Literacy is one of the prerequisite steps for overall development of individuals and community as well. This study shows the women literacy rate is 88 percent. 54 percent can just read and write. But only 8 percent v attained higher than S.L.C. However, the situation in literacy has been improving overtime due their economic independence. Nepali social norms and taboos discourage women for decision-making in all sphere of life especially for rural women. In the study are a out of 50 respondent 62 percent of them participate in their household decision-making process. But 24 percent of them never participate on household decision-making process. Gradually, commercial vegetable farming bring a positive result on women’s livelihood on the basis of education, economic access,awareness level. Commercial vegetable farming give house to house less. Social status and identity to the rural women farmers.