ANALYSIS OF GENDER INVOLVEMENT IN AGRICULTURAL DECISION MAKING AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN: A CASE STUDY OF DISTRICT CHAKWAL

Abstract

The Punjab province is the Pakistan’s most populous province which accommodated to the half population of the country. The Potohar region is located across the northern portion of the Punjab province, north of the salt range, between the Jhelum and Indus River. Agriculture sector in Pakistan is currently contributing 20.9 % of the national income and about 70 % of the country’s experts are directly and indirectly based on agriculture. Majority of the farmers in Potohar region own less than two hectors of agricultural land. Food and fodder securities are main concerns of agriculture in this tract where crop production is entirely depends upon the intensity and distribution of rain fall during the cropping seasons. Women, the half of humanity, have important roles in Potohar agriculture for food and fodder securities in the area. The females are administering home and social duties with the least help from males. Despite improvements in the women’s capabilities, gender gaps in entitlements and agricultural decision making continue to persist. Pakistan is no exception. Keeping in view the gender discrimination in decision making regarding to agriculture and rural development, a study on “Analysis of Gender Involvement in Agricultural Decision making and rural Development in Potohar region in Punjab province is envisaged. District Chakwal was selected as the universe of the research study. A snap shot survey research was conducted for collection of data. A well thought/conceived and pre-coded instrument of data collection (interview schedule) was applied in the field. Both analysis of quantitative data and qualitative information were combined to have most robust results. The result reveals that women are the most active in crop production and natural resource management. Their role in decision making process regarding to agricultural productivity is very limited. The factors like cultural values, personal ego, male dominance, social pressures, mobility problems, physical and social security are ground problems of females in decision making process. The final decision power on all issues lies with male household head. Therefore, it is recommended that labor intensive crops like vegetable farming, crop production technologies should be promoted in the area. Electronic media and NGOs’ counseling services will be useful in improving gender equality perceptions among males. Equal education and training opportunities should be provided to both males and females in order to improve the quality of farm operations and its recognition in male’s eyes.