Women Participation on Commercial Vegetable Farming in Dakshinkali Municipality, Kathmandu District

Abstract

Women make substantial contribution in agriculture sector. Women contribute more labour to Nepalese agriculture than do men. Women generally work from sunrise till the evening. The tasks which women perform in the farming sector are several and often require hard physical labour. However, farming women in the third world are often regarded as "invisible" or as mere " housewives" or "economically non- active", in spite of the fact that they have to perform a " dual role" in agriculture as well as household work. Despite the major contribution of women in agriculture, they are considered as the second grade citizens and their role and contribution in the development process is always ignored. The study entitled Women Participation On Commercial Vegetable Farming in Dakshinkali Municipality of Kathmandu District has been prepared. The main objectives of the study are to analyze women participation in commercial vegetable farming in Dakshinkali area of Kathmandu district. The specific objectives of the study are a) Toexamine the socio- economic status of the women involved in commercial farming b) To analyze the participation of women in production, marketing and decision making role and c) To explore the problem and prospects of commercial vegetable farming in the study area. The research design adopted for this study is descriptive as well as exploratory. Both Primary and Secondary data are used to fulfill the objectives of the study. In the sampling process, simple random sampling has been adopted with the proportional distribution of the sample units on the basis of the ward sizes of population.Out of total population 100 HHs have been chosen as sample units. The study found that people live more in pakki house. Most of the respondents were sending their children to school after vegetable farming. 46 percent were sending their children to private schools and 25 percent were sending to both government and private schools. Although, vegetable farming is done in very less area in compare to other products like paddy, its contribution is very significant. Among the produced vegetables cauliflower is highest production amounting 8000 kg per annum. And, the annual in come group is highest at the level Rs 16,0000-17,0000. Along with the improvement in production technology and marketing, the commercial production of vegetable seems to be much rewarding in the area. The problems identified in vegetable farming in study area are lack of irrigation, modern techniques, trainings, chemical fertilizer and marketing. Vegetable farming has been playing major role for local sustenance and livelihood. If we solve the above problem, it is sure that the vegetable farming will be done successfully. The commercial production will not only uplift of women only but the whole region. So, the commercial farming of vegetables helps to raise economic condition especially of women and reduce unemployment problem of this area. Thus, commercial vegetable farming should be promoted in the study area to make overall development. It is beneficial to improve the socio-economic status of the women. Vegetable production has help in the effective improvement in income and employment. It will make the area self sustained.