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Women's participation in the transformation of smallholder agriculture in Casabauc, Covalima, Timor Leste
Thesis Abstract:
Agricultural progress in Timor-Leste is occurring, yet women's participation is insufficiently recognized. This study analyzed women's participation in the transformation of smallholder agriculture in Casabauc Village, Covalima District, Timor-Leste. Specifically, the study sought to: (1) describe the socio-demographic, economic and household characteristics of women involved in the agricultural transformation; (2) discuss how the agricultural transformation from subsistence to market-oriented agriculture transpired for individual households in the study sites; (3) examine the roles women play in the agricultural transformation; (4) analyze the factors associated with women's participation in the agricultural transformation; (5) assess the factors influencing agricultural transformation; and (6) recommend strategies to enhance the transformation of smallholder agriculture.
The study utilized survey (with 191 respondents), key informant interviews, focus group discussion, and review of secondary data. The results of the survey were analyzed using descriptive, correlational, and regression statistics.
The all-female respondents are adults and married. They have primary level of education, medium-sized households, mother/wife-farmer roles, and low-income households. The presence of community associations and percentage of joining are very minimal. Market and roads are in poor condition.
Crop and livestock productions are still in subsistence level as regards income and farm productivity, but they have progressed over the last 10 years on use of land/number of heads, labor, and farm technology.
The women are major contributors to household income, just like the men, because in almost all stages of crop and livestock farming, they perform roles and responsibilities, get involved in decision-making, have control and power over household resources equally with the men.
The Spearman, Cramer's V, and Kendall's tau b correlational results indicated that the women have high level of participation in maize production because they are adults, married, and have basic education, respectively. In pig production, the Cramer's V correlational result indicated the women have equal access to and control over household resources with the men because of their being married.
The Binomial Logistic Regression results revealed that the predictors of the transformation from subsistence level to a market-oriented are age and land size in maize production and age and access to and control over household resources in pig production.
Based on the findings, appropriate strategies to enhance the transformation process were recommended.