Archives of Current Research International

Aims: The pilot study aimed to assess the extent of rural women’s participation in farm activities, evaluate their role in farm decision-making, and identify the socio-cultural, educational, technical, and resource-based factors constraining their involvement in farm management.

Study Design: A pilot study of descriptive, cross-sectional research design was employed to measure women’s participation, decision-making patterns, and associated determinants.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Rawat Minor village, Bikaner district, Rajasthan, under the College of Community Sciences, SKRAU Bikaner, during December ,2024.

Methodology: The sample of 30 farm women in Rawat Minor village was identified purposely by utilizing the assistance of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK). A personal interview schedule was used to collect data in a structured form. The frequency and composite indices were used to analyze the participation, the decision-making roles of the women and access to resources, and Pearson correlation was used to determine the relationship between the participation and decision-making.

Results: Women exhibited moderate-to-high participation in agricultural tasks, with planting (80%), land preparation (72%), and harvesting (72%) showing the highest involvement (Mean participation score: 2.33 ± 0.71 on a 3-point scale). However, their role in decision-making remained low to moderate (Composite decision score: 1.72 ± 0.71). Only 20% of women always participated in key decisions such as crop selection, while 63.33% never controlled farm income independently. Strong positive correlations were found between participation and decision-making indicators (r = 0.66–0.79, p < 0.001), indicating that increased participation was associated with greater—but still limited—decision-making authority. Major constraints included socio-cultural barriers (e.g., family traditions, arranged marriage), limited access to resources (46.66%), complicated farming practices (63.33%), restricted extension services, and psychological barriers such as low self-confidence.

Conclusion: Although rural women actively contribute to farm labor, their decision-making power remains restricted due to social norms, limited resource access, and inadequate institutional support. Strengthening gender-sensitive extension services, improving access to training, credit, and technology, and promoting supportive socio-cultural environments are essential for enhancing women’s autonomy and improving agricultural productivity.