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Rural Women's Participation in Farm and Non-farm Activities in Camalaniugan, Cagayan
Dissertation Abstract:
The study sought to determine the participation of rice farmers in farm and non-farm activities, the problems/needs/solutions they encountered, and the possible factors that influenced their participation.
Data were gathered through interviews in five purposively sampled villages, namely: Centro Norte, Bulala, Dugo, Casili, and Minanga in Camalaniugan, Cagayan with 241 randomly-selected respondents. Descriptive statistics, chi-square, Pearson Correlation Coefficient, and multiple regression were used to analyze the data. Most of the respondents were middle-aged, had attained high educational level, and had basically nuclear households which consisted of four to six members. They were generally Roman Catholics. Most of them were not prone to organizational membership.
The respondents' level of living was low which was aggravated by their low income. Their main source of farm income was rice. Non-farm income was derived from a variety of sources. The visibility of tractors as farm implement was due to the presence of agricultural machinery shops in nearby towns that sell equipment on installment payment.
The average rice farm was 2.4 ha with most areas irrigated. Most respondents were land owners but the areas they cultivate were so small that income from them cannot adequately support their families' needs.
The women believed that their prime obligation was to their home and family, though they were expected to help their husbands in the farm. They were favorably disposed to their roles in both home and farm.
Capital was identified as a major problem both in farm and non-farm activities. To cope with their financial problems, respondents suggested the establishment of credit facilities and provision of government support. As coping mechanisms, most of them identified relatives, friends, and parents, especially when they had problems on finances, health and food.
Natural calamities (e.g., typhoon, flood, and drought) which frequent the area had also hindered the villages' growth and development.
The chi-square test showed that women's participation in the farm was significantly. related to the following variables: type of family, organizational membership, family level of living (which constitutes type of dwelling and possessions), tenurial status, and farm classification. Variables significantly related to participation in non-farm activities were type of family, organizational membership, family's level of living, tenurial status, and total area cultivated.
Variables that were not signiticantly related to participation in farm activities were age, family size, religious affiliation, income, and total area cultivated. Likewise, age, educational attainment, family size, religious affiliation, income, and farm classification were not significantly related to participation in non-farm activities.
Through multiple regression, social, economic, and cultural factors were rejected at five percent level of significance while personal factors were accepted at five percent level of significance. This signified that these factors did not influence farm and non-farm activities.