Abstract:
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.
