Women participation in lowland irrigated rice production in the province of Nueva Ecija
Date
2005
Authors
Celia G. Abadilla
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Abstract
This study was conducted to assess women participation in lowland rice production in the province of Nueva Ecija. Multi stage sampling using urposive and random sampling was employed in determining the 120 respondents residing in selected localities in Nueva Ecija. Primary data were collected using an interview schedule and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson product moment correlation coefficient, multiple linear regression, and chi square.
The respondents were mostly past their forties and have been farming for more than 20 years. Their average household size was six which conformed with the national average household size. The women work with their husband in the farm. Decision making with regard to farming activities was made by both husband and wife.
Most of the resondents participated in trainings on rice farming technologies conducted in their towns. Majority had moderate expectation of increasing their income from rice farming if they availed of credit subsidies from the government. Also, majority had 5.2 hectares farmlots categorized as medium size. They are mostly owner cultivators with an average income from rice farming of Php37,187.50 per hectare for wet cropping season and Php48,736.25 for dry cropping season.
The respondents had partial participation in cultural management practices. These include method of crop establishment as transplanted, direct seeded, or a combination of both.
Women claimed participation in fertilizer management such as selection of the kind of fertilizer to use, dciding and buying fertilizers.
In pest management, the women are not directly involved in spraying of the pesticides. However, they decide and buy the kind and type of pesticides to use.
Water management is the domain of the men. However, women still indirectly participate because they cook the food and brought this to the field for the men and other members of the family to eat.
Farming experience, expectation of credit assistance, expectation for higher income, gross family income during wet season and farm size were significantly related to women's participation in rice production. Furthermore, those that significantly influence women participation in lowland rice production were farming experience, expectation of acquiring technical skills, expectation of higher income, farm size, and gross income during the wet season.
The respondents recommended conduct of interesting and effective trainings, higher subsidies on farm inputs, provision of credit in kind or in cash, and increase wage rate of women in rice production.