Time utilization and decision making pattern among women dairy farmers of sikkim

Dairy farming is one of the key economic activities of farming communities in the mountain areas. The present study was designed to analyse the time utilization and decision making pattern among women dairy farmers of Sikkim. The data related to time utilization and decision making pattern in dairy farming practices were collected through personal interview using semi-structured interview schedule. The study indicated that majority (77.5%) of the respondents spent more than 6 hours at home tending to household works and taking care of the livestock. About 85.8% respondents spent more than 5 hours in the field carrying out all the major agricultural activities including bringing fodders for the animals back home. Majority ofthe decision related to dairying were takenjointly followed by families where the male member were involved in taking the decision, and in comparison very few women were found to take the decisions independently. Women thus constituted the dominant workforce engaged in dairy farming in the hill region with respect to time spent in dairy farming activities. However, with respect to decision making, their participation was lesser than inale counterparts.