Women's role in decision-making in marketing of rice produce

This study aims to assess the socio-economic characteristics of women farmers in Dhemaji District, Assam, their involvement in marketing rice produce, the specific decisions they make in rice farming and the constraints they have faced. Data were collected from 120 women farmers using stratified sampling method, focusing on their demographic profile and role in marketing. Results show that the majority of women are middle-aged, married and have studied till high school, with extensive farming experience. The study found significant associations between socio-economic characteristics (age, education, income) and women's involvement in marketing, with education playing the strongest role. Women are highly involved in activities like product diversification, market research and quality control. However, only 25% are fully empowered in decision-making, while 40.8% have moderate influence. Socio-economic factors like age and income have significant impacts on decision-making levels. Additionally, women face constraints such as limited access to modern farming techniques, financial credit and post-harvest technologies, as well as gender-based barriers. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions to enhance women's decision-making power and access to resources, especially through training and better financial support, to improve their participation in rice farming and marketing.