Relationship between Different Characteristics of Rural Women with their Participation in Mixed Farming Activities

Since time immemorial, Iranian women have played a pivotal role in agriculture, the largest industry contributing to rural livelihoods. Hence, the present study was conducted in Tafresh area of Iran to examine factors influencing participation of rural women in mixed farming activities in 1999.This was a descriptive- correlation research project in which a total number of 300 rural women were selected through stratified random sampling technique and interviewed. A questionnaire was used as measurement tool for which the reliability coefficient was 0.90. According to the findings, sixteen characteristics of rural women had significant relationships with their overall participation in mixed farming. Nine variables, namely, women’s age, husband’s age, crop farming experience, animal husbandry experience, perceived role overload, total energy expenditure, energy expenditure in animal husbandry, time spent in animal husbandry and time spent in mixed farming were positively and significantly correlated with overall participation of rural women in mixed farming. Whereas, energy expenditure in mixed farming activities, women’s education, husband’s education, animal ownership, extension contact, energy and time spent in household activities were negatively and significantly correlated with the overall participation of rural women in mixed farming. Stepwise regression analysis revealed that 48 per cent of variation in the overall participation of rural women in mixed farming was explained by three variables: marital status, woman’s education and time spent in animal husbandry.