Indian Journal of Economics and Development

The present study was conducted in Belagavi district of Karnataka to analyse the determinants of participation of dairy farm women in Women Dairy Self Help Groups (WDSHGs). Three talukas and from each taluka three villages were selected purposively based on the presence of Women Dairy Self Help Groups (WDSHGs). Finally, two WDSHGs were selected randomly from each village and from each WDSHG two members were selected randomly making a sample of 90 members. Also, 90 non-members having similar socio-economic status were selected, thus making the total sample size to 180. Primary data was collected on various variables and analysed by using the logistic regression and marginal effect technique. The result showed that age of the farmer and family size had a positive and significant effect on farm women participation in WDSHGs in the study area. This suggest that as the age and family size of the farm women increases, the more likely they are to become a member of WDSHGs. Between these two variables, the family size was found to have more influence on participation as seen from the marginal effect analysis. Education level of the dairy farm women also positively influenced their participation. On the other hand, the number of milch animals owned had a negative impact implying that large dairy farm women are less likely to join WDSHGs. Alternatively this points out that small and marginal dairy farm women are more likely to be members of WDSHGs