Women Participation in Agricultural Activities and Associated Problems in District Faisalabad

Abstract

Women in Pakistan play an important role in society, with the majority living in rural areas. The
status, employment, and work performed by them are instrumental in the economic growth of the
nation. Agriculture is the predominant source of livelihood for almost 60 percent of the population
and a major source of poverty reduction in rural areas. Women are as important a component of the
labour force in the agriculture sector as are men but still, their contribution is not visible, though
they actively undertake all the agricultural-related activities from household to farm level. The
current study is designed to examine their participation level in different agricultural activities and
the problems faced by them in performing these activities. The study was conducted in district
Faisalabad. A sample size of 120 respondents was taken through purposive sampling. Data was
collected through personal interviews using a pretested interview schedule. The study finds that
women play a very important role in all the agriculture related activities. Household activities like
picking cotton, crop and vegetable production were major activities performed by rural women.