Women in Cassava Cultivation in Kerala- A Critical Analysis

Abstract

Women play a major role in agriculture as well as in cultivation of tuber crops. Cassava is a tropical tuber crop which grows well in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and other northeastern states of India. In Kerala, cassava is mostly cultivated as a homestead crop and hence women raise this crop within their backyards. Women play a multifaceted role including management of household activities and caring the family. This study was conducted in Kerala state of India to analyse the profile characteristics of women involved in cassava farming along with their needs, preferences and opportunities in cassava cultivation. Two districts namely Thiruvananthapuram and Pathanamthitta were selected for the study as these districts occupy a major share of area under cassava in Kerala. A cluster of villages comprising two to three villages from each district were selected with a total sample of 65 women respondents. It was observed that 89.30 percent of the women belonged to middle aged category, and nearly 45 percent of the women were educated up to high school. Majority of the women were marginal farmers having less than 2.5 acres. Majority of the women’s level of aspiration was medium and only 12.30 percent had high level of aspiration. The needs, preferences and opportunities of the farm women were assessed to formulate strategies and action plan to empower women in cassava cultivation.Keywords : Cassava, Women, Profile characteristics, Needs, Preferences, Opportunities