Women in the Homestead Agroforestry-Contribution to Sustainable Development

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess women’s role in homestead agroforestry and to explore their relationships with the selected parameters. Total 225 respondents were selected randomly for the study. Homestead agro forestry is the combination of multi components including plants, animals and human habitats in the tiny pieces of land. All of these were maintained by household member’s especially female members with the view to household consumption and surpluses for distribution & sale. Women are almost fifty percent of the society. The role of women entrusted from dig to cooking of final recipe in the homestead agroforestry.Women were devoted in contributing to the homestead agro forestry through their direct involvement as physical labour and intellectual for decision and management. They played an important role in domestic duties including homestead production & management (vegetables, trees, fruits, livestock, poultry birds and fishes), as well as post-harvest processing, decision making and technology adoption. In organizing inputs (seeds, seedlings, mulching materials, compost, dung, others implements) for homestead agro forestry, women paid more attention on it. Women were taken decision deliberately on planting of fruit trees, growing of vegetables, rearing of poultry birds and small scale live stocks). On the other hand, both women & men were responsible for fish farming and animal husbandry. Management (watering, feeding, pest management and harvesting) was the common routine works of women. In conserving biodiversity, rearing the young and introduction of new species in the homestead agro forestry women were played significant role. Women were also produced seeds, preserved and used for next year production. They were given significant contribution in managing family by using and selling homestead agro forestry produces during crisis. Major problems were recognized regarding role of women in homestead agro forestry including societal attitude towards women, dominating tendency by the husband and little control over resources.

Keywords: Homestead agro forestry; versatile; traditional recipe; indigenous knowledge;