Women Labour Participation of Agricultural Production in Sindh Pakistan

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the economics analysis of women labour participation in agricultural production in Mirpurkhas, Sindh during 2013. The results of the study showed that that the women labourers got maximum employment in agriculture during kharif (67 days) and rabi season (53 days). The women labourers got 120 days of employment in agriculture in a year. The labourers got maximum number of days of employment in weeding (64 days) followed by harvesting and post harvest operations (34 days). They received wages in cash for all operations except harvest and post harvest operations. They worked for 7-8 hours a day. The women labourers had maximum unemployed days in summer (120 days) as this is the off season for agriculture in the study area. Their family consumption expenditure, their savings and debt position is presented the average debit amount was Rs.3100.00 in kharif . It increased in Rabi Rs. 4700.00. The impact of seasonal woman unemployment in agriculture on the income of the labourers, their family consumption expenditure, their savings and debt position .That the during kharif season the labourers got on an average Rs. 19700.00 as income. But during rabi they received only Rs. 18000.00 as income from wage earnings in agriculture .The expenditure on food item was on an average Rs. 10300.00during kharif . It reduced by 13.94 per cent during rabi 8300.00. The expenditure on non-food items also decreased from Rs. 7500.00 to Rs. 62000.00. The change was Rs.1300.The lack of employment opportunities in agriculture during off season compelled the women labourers to seek alternative employment sources like activities, construction works, tile making etc. The seasonal woman unemployment in agriculture has caused a severe impact on the income of labourers, family expenditure, their savings and debt position.

Keywords: Women labour, Agriculture, Consumption, Kharif, Rabi, Mirpurkhas