Vol. 11, Special Issue 4 (2022)

Author(s):
Trishita Banik, Sabita Mondal, Ushia Rai, Birat Rai and Nikhil Kumar

Abstract:
Off farm sectors are working as substitutes during extremity and farm women play an important role in household food security. Women contribute their maximum portion of income in securing food for them and for other members of the family. According to a survey conducted by IFPRI (2001), women play a dominant role to gain household food security. The study has attempted to find if various independent variables (Socio -personal and Socio- psychological) have any relation with the off farm income of the respondents. The study had also analysed the contribution of off farm income of farm women in the total household income and its impact on food security.The study was done in two blocks of Cooch Behar district of West Bengal and were selected purposively. 120 farm women were selected randomly from four villages as respondents. The data were collected by personal interview method with the help of structured interview schedule. Statistical tools like frequency, percentage, mean, SD, ranking, correlation etc has been used to analyse the data. It was found that independent variables like education, land holding, social participation, cosmo politeness and training attended had positive and significant association with off farm income and off farm income of the farm women had high level of contribution in the total household income.It has also been found that there is a positive and significant relationship between off farm income, total household incomeand food security. The study concludes that woman play a vital role in securing household food accessibility and availability. Thus, policies across different sectors like agriculture, credit, labor markets etc need to recognize women as equal workers and contributors to household food security as well as overall household economy by ensuring equal entitlements to resources, services and returns to labor (wages).The terms and conditions of women’s engagement in the non farm sector should be encouraged through improved access to market, information and transportation. Local government bodies (panchayats) should provide women with a genuine voice and control over local resources, enabling them to mainstream the gender issues in the planning and implementation of programs and their implementation.