1. INTRODUCTION:

Women play a distinctive role in shaping the rural economic activities and earning a livelihood. India is a agriculture dominated country and most of manual operations like sowing, weeding, transplanting, harvesting, threshing and winnowing and even marketing of agricultural produce are being done by women. Their contribution to the rural economy is enormous. But the role of women in economic and social development has not received due recognition so far in our society. But, efforts are being made by the Government to give due recognition to their participation by making various laws time to time in favour of women.

Contrary to the common perception about women in India, a large percentage of them work (Women of India, 2006). The National data collection agencies accept the fact that there is a serious under-estimation of women's contribution as workers. However, there are far fewer women in the paid workforce than there are men (Kalyaniand Kumar2001). In urban India Women have impressive number in the workforce and they are at par with their male counter parts in terms of wages, position at the work place (Singh and Hoge 2010). In rural India, agriculture and allied industrial sectors employ as much as 89.5% of the total female labour (Asia's women,2006). In overall farm production, women's average contribution is estimated at 55% to 66% of the total labour. According to a 1991 World Bank report, women accounted for 94% of total employment in dairy production in India. Women constitute 51% of the total employed in forest-based small-scale enterprises (Asia's women, 2006).

Actuality, the social, economic and cultural conditions of the area determine women’s participation in home and farm activities. The nature and extent of women’s involvement in agriculture, no doubt, varies greatly from region to region and within a region, their involvement varies among different farming systems, castes, classes and socio- economic status. But regardless of these variations, there is hardly any activity in agricultural production, except ploughing in which women are not actively involved (Swaminathan, 1985). In some of the farm activities like processing and storage, women predominate so strongly that men workers are numerically insignificant.

However, the Indian Himalayan region (IHR) displays a different picture in land use pattern and its dependency on agricultural land. The Himalayan people have traditionally practiced integrated agriculture, balancing cultivation, agro-forestry, animal husbandry and forestry. Mountain geography and inaccessibility have helped maintain agro-biodiversity; yet commercial agriculture is not as high-yielding and profitable as in the plains. Here forest is the major land use pattern, which covers over 52% of total reporting area followed by wastelands and agricultural land. However, the dependency on its limited arable land is marginally higher in the IHR as cultivators and agricultural labourers together comprise about 59% of total workforce in the region (Nandy and Samal, 2005).

Some historians believe that it was woman who first domesticated crop plants and thereby initiated the art and science of farming. While men went out hunting in search of food, women started gathering seeds from the native flora and began cultivating those of interest from the point of view of food, feed, fodder, fiber and fuel (Prasad and Singh 1992).Women have protected the health of the soil through organic recycling and promoted crop security through the maintenance of varietal diversity and genetic resistance. Therefore, without the total intellectual and physical participation of women, it will not be possible to popularize alternative systems of land management to shifting cultivation, arrest gene and soil erosion, and promote the care of the soil and the health of economic plants and farm animals.

2. FARMING STRATEGIES ADOPTED BY THE AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT IN THE STATE

The state has a target of converting it into a fully organic state by 2015. In this regard, the Department has started a lot of measures to replace the chemical fertilizers by using bio fertilizers and organic manures. Effective Microorganism (EM) technology in production of compost and bokashi and bio-pesticide is being propagated among the farmers in technical collaboration with MAPLE ORTECH, Dehradun to give boost to organic farming in Sikkim. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) technology is being practiced to control the pests. Predators are produced in Sikkim State IPM Lab and are released in the farmers’ field as and when required. The Government has set up a livelihood school also on organic farming at Tadong, Gangtok .This is first of its’ type in the country. Participants will be given 3 months training on organic farming processes. Trained youths will go to villages and assist farmers at village level. Popularization of HYV seeds, production of quality seeds, mixed cropping, pest management through Farmers Field Schools (FFS), recycling of farm waste for compost production, soil reclamation by liming, seed treatment campaign and integrated farming through watershed approach are some of the strategies adopted by the Department in the state.

Mechanization has varied connotations. While in the developed world it tends to be synonymous to automation but in developing countries, like India especially in hilly areas, mechanization means any improved tool, implement, machinery or structure that assists in enhancement of workers’ output, multiplies the human effort, supplements or substitutes human labour, avoids drudgery or stresses that adversely affect human mental activities leading to errors, imprecision and hazards and eventually loss of efficiency. It also means automation and controls that assure quality, hygiene. Agricultural mechanization in a limited sense relates to production agriculture.

Farming with machinery in Sikkim is almost nonexistent. However Power operated Thresher, Hand Winnower, Hand Maize Sheller, Iron Plough and other gender friendly machineries have been introduced on experimental basis. Sprinkler and drip irrigation has been taken up on demonstration basis. Agriculture in the state is mainly rain fed. Farm mechanization here in Sikkim is meant for increasing the production and productivity, comfort and safety, return and profitability to farmer.

3. DEMOGRAPHIC FEATURES:

According to (Census 2011), Sikkim has a total population of 607 688 persons (which is 0.05 percent of total population of India) of which 321661are males and 286 027 are females. From the year 1991-01 to 2001-11, decadal population variation recorded was 33.07 to 12.36 percentages, while India’s figure for the same is 17.64. In 2011 rural population consists of 480,981 people while urban population consists of 59,870 people. Sex ratio (females per 1000 males) also known as Gender Ratio, in the same decade has shown a little improvement i.e. from 875 to 889 but still lags behind India’s, which is 940. Though population density per sq. km. has increased in the same decade from 76 to 86 but is much less than national population density per sq. km. which is equal to 382. Literacy rate in 2001 was 68.81 which rose to 82.20 in 2011 which is above national average of 74.04 percent. This decade has seen an increase in male literacy rate from 76.04 to 87.30 as against all India’s rate which is 82.14 and female literacy rate also shows increased figures i.e. from 60.41 to 76.43 as against all India’s rate of 65.46.

3.1 Workers Profile

According to (Census 2001), there are 37,936 cultivators (About 26,000 of them are small/medium farmers) out of which 19,725 are males and 18,211 are females in East district. Of them 37,889 live in rural and only 47 live in urban area. In rural area 19,701 are males and 18,188 are females. Total no. of agricultural labourers 8,143 out of which 4,076 are males and 4,067 are females. Of them 8,110 live in rural and only 33 live in urban area. In rural area 4,056 are males and 4,054 are females.

There are 35,764 cultivators (About 16,000 of them are small/medium farmers) out of which 20,634 are males and 15,130 are females in West district. Of them 35,762 live in rural and only 02 live in urban area. In rural area 20,632 are males and 15,130 are females. Total no. of agricultural labourers in the district are 4,112 out of which 2,389 are males and 1,723 are females. Of them 4,110 live in rural and only 02 live in urban area. In rural area 2,389 are males and 1,721 are females.

There are 9,180 cultivators (About 6,000 of them are small/medium farmers) out of which 4,831are males and 4,349 are females in North district. Of them 9,173 live in rural and only 07 live in urban area. In rural area 4,824 are males and 4,349 are females. Total no. of agricultural labourers in the district are 2,051out of which 1,045 are males and 1,006 are females. Of them 2,038 live in rural and only 13 live in urban area. In rural area 1,033 are males and 1,005 are females.

There are 48,378 cultivators (About 20,000 of them are small/medium farmers) out of which 24,917are males and 23,461 are females in South district. Of them 48,377 live in rural and only 01 live in urban area. In rural area 24,917 are males and 23,460 are females. Total no. of agricultural labourers in the district are 2,694 out of which 1,252 are males and 1,442 are females. All of them live in rural and no one live in urban area. In rural area 1,252 are males and 1,442 are females.

The above data, showed that in all the districts more than half of the cultivators are small/medium farmers.It was also observed that almost all of them live in rural areas and equal number offemales participants were sighted as of men.

4. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:

4.1 Universe or population

The universe or population for the study consists of total number of married females in rural areas who are employed in farming in the state of Sikkim. This forms the pivotal point of the present research.

4.2 Sampling method for selected area of study

Multi-stage stratified random sampling technique of probability method is used to distribute the population into circles, revenue blocks and villages, then a combination of Judgment and Convenience sampling techniques of non-probability methods is decided upon for this study. Non-probability methods are of three types, namely Judgment sampling, Convenience sampling and Quota sampling. The state has only four districts; so, all of them have been taken for the study. Initially, under the multistage stratified random sampling technique- a selection of a tentative list of circles and revenue blocks from all the four districts was made followed by a selection of villages to be visited at the second and a selection of respondents at the final stage. A final list of the respondents from different farm households was prepared based on convenience and their accessibility to the researcher by stratified random sampling.

4.3 Sample size

Rural areas from all 4 districts of Sikkim were selected. As is clear from the table 1 below, though North district contains maximum area of the State i.e. almost 60%, but it holds only 7-8% of the population. On the contrary East district contains only 13% area of the State, but it holds maximum i.e. 45% of the population. So, for this study, maximum no. of females for data collection is from East and minimum are from North. Here, the size of the sampling female farmers from each district is neither proportional to the minimum size of the sampling female farmers of the district nor in the same ratio as is the percentage ratio of each district to the total population of the state. But the sample size of each district is just an indicative of the reason of taking maximum/minimum sampling units from that area.

A data collected from a total of 24 circles from all the four districts in Sikkim has been analyzed. The district wise i.e. (East, West, North and South) distribution of circles selected is 6, 6, 4 and 8 respectively. A total of 80 females of farming community from East, 30 from North and 60 each from West and South districts have been interviewed. Data for 115 samples (50% of 230), was collected by the researcher herself, while for rest of 115 samples (40, 30, 15 and 30 from East, West, North and South respectively), was collected with the active help and participation of all the village heads. Data thus collected from 230 married females in rural areas in the state of Sikkim, employed in farming sector has become the basis of the Primary Data analysis in this Study

Source- figures extracted from census 2001.

4.4 Data collection and analysis

In order to collect qualitative data, three group discussion sessions were arranged separately in three villages (Syari, Sichey and Rawtey rumtek); each group contained 10 participants. During these group sessions, several open-ended questions were asked from the respondents in order to collect deeper information about their accessibility to resources and their participation in different farms and the related activities along with many hidden facts and factors. Based on this information, the research instrument i.e. questionnaire containing dichotomous, multiple choice and open end questions was designed and a pre-test was conducted with 18 respondents for its necessary modification. It was then translated into Nepali also for the convenience of the farm population. Primary data was collected by researcher by visiting the farming females of rural area in Sikkim, using questionnaires. The primary data was collected between March to September 2011 from all districts of Sikkim.

Books, journals, reports and internet documents were used as secondary sources of data supporting or supplementing the empirical findings of the study.

4.5 Data analysis

Data has been analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) and some descriptive statistics, such as percentage, mean, standard deviation (SD) were used to interpret the data.

There is only one sample in the study. Ordinal and nominal level data can be analyzed using parametric statistics; therefore One-Sample t-test for inferential interpretation of the data has been run to understand the nature of relation between the variables. For the inferences of the hypotheses, Information from literature survey is taken to support some assumptions.

The impact of factors such as age, education and land holding on relative participation in different farm, animal and related activities particularly by women has also been documented. The age of respondents has been studied at three levels – 20-39 yrs, 40- 59 yrs and > 60yrs while the education level has been distributed as illiterate, primary level, middle, matric and secondary level . On the basis of their land holdings, farmers have been classified as large (>10 ha), marginal (2-10 ha), small farmers (<2ha) and landless. The collected data was tabulated and percentages were used to come to a logical conclusion.

Hypothesis Statement–

Participation in farm, animal and related activities by women is more than that of men.

Ho –Participation in farm, animal and related activities by women is not more than that of men.

Ha - Participation in farm, animal and related activities by women is more than that of men.

5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

5.1 Gender participation in farm activities

The different management practices carried out in crop production and animal husbandry and related activities identified as (A), (B), (C), (D), (E), (F), (G), (H), (I), (J), (K), (L), (M), (N), (O), (P), (Q), (R), (S) in the Table -2.1 below, represents - ploughing of fields (A), sowing of seeds (B), weeding (C), harvesting (D), threshing (E), winnowing (F), storage of grain (G), collection of fuel from fields / forest / community land (H), procurement of feed and fodder from the market (I), cleaning of the animals and their shed (J), feeding of animals (K), watering (L), getting green fodder from fields / forest / community land (M), milking (N), milk disposal (O), health care to animals (P), vaccination and visits to animal hospitals (Q), breeding of animals (R), care of fields and crops (S).

It has been observed in Table 2 that though both the genders are responsible for most of these activities, but, division of labour in the performance of some activities has been spotted. The ploughing of fields (72%) is the mainstay of men. However, 28% farmers preferred to involve women also, mainly for cleaning of the field. Activities like sowing of seed (40%), Weeding (30%), harvesting (30%), threshing (equal 19%), getting green fodder from fields / forest / community land (equal 23%) and Winnowing (27%) relatively more independent involvement of women has been noticed. Whereas for storage of grain, independent involvement of men (27%) has been noted. Even so, the data has shown more percentage of respondents jointly participating (both men and women) in activities like Sowing of seeds (58%), Weeding (59%), Harvesting (66%), Threshing (62%), Winnowing (50%), Storage of grains (58%) and Collection of fuel from fields /forest /community land (60%). Involvement of women in livestock management practices varies depending upon the type of management practices. Data presented in Table shows more percentage of women contributing independently in activities like feeding of animals (20%), watering of animals (26%), milking (27%) and milk disposal (35%). While activities like vaccination and visits to animal hospitals (78%), breeding of animals (71%), traditional health care of animals (40%), procurement of feed and fodder from the market (35%) and cleaning of the animals and their shed (35%) relatively more percentage of men has been found than women. Nevertheless, the data shows joint participation (both men and women) for (more than 50%) of the respondents in activities like Procurement of feed and fodder from the market(52%), Cleaning of the animals/shed(66%), Feeding of animals(75%), Watering(65%), getting green fodder from fields / forest / community land(54%), Milking(57%), Milk disposal(55%) and traditional health care to animals(49%).

Table 2 - :Frequency of gender wise participation in Farm and related activities of sample farmers at selected sites of Sikkim state

Activities

→

Ploughing of Fields

Sowing of seeds

Weeding

Harvesting

Threshing

Winnowing

Storage of grains

Collection of fuel from fields /forest /community land

Procurement of feed and fodder from the market

Cleaning of the animals/shed

Feeding of animals

Watering

getting green fodder from fields / forest / community land

Milking

Milk disposal

Traditional health care to animals

Vaccination/visits to animal hospitals

Breeding of animals

Traditional care of fields/crops

Relative participation ↓

Male

166

(72)

(02)

(11)

(04)

(19)

(23)

(27)

(26)

(35)

(27)

(05)

(09)

(23)

(16)

(10)

(40)

164

(71)

157

(68)

(18)

Female

(00)

(40)

(30)

(19)

(27)

(15)

(14)

(13)

(07)

(20)

(26)

(23)

(27)

(35)

(11)

(00)

(01)

(10)

Both

(28)

134

(58)

136

(59)

152

(66)

142

(62)

116

(50)

138

(60)

119

(52)

119

(52)

152

(66)

172

(75)

149

(65)

125

(54)

131

(57)

126

(55)

113

(49)

(29)

(31)

165

(72)

Table-2.1-One-Sample Test
	Test Value = 2
					95% Confidence Interval of the Difference
	t	df	Sig. (2-tailed)	Mean Difference	Lower	Upper
Q.A	-24.371	229	.000	-.722	-.78	-.66
Q.B	10.740	229	.000	.374	.31	.44
Q.C	4.510	229	.000	.183	.10	.26
Q.D	7.270	229	.000	.252	.18	.32
Q.E	.213	229	.832	.009	-.07	.09
Q.F	.749	229	.455	.035	-.06	.13
Q.G	-2.781	229	.006	-.117	-.20	-.03
Q.H	-2.749	229	.006	-.113	-.19	-.03
Q.I	-4.876	229	.000	-.213	-.30	-.13
Q.J	-5.534	229	.000	-.200	-.27	-.13
Q.K	4.363	229	.000	.139	.08	.20
Q.L	4.766	229	.000	.178	.10	.25
Q.M	-.097	229	.923	-.004	-.09	.08
Q.N	2.542	229	.012	.109	.02	.19
Q.O	5.878	229	.000	.243	.16	.33
Q.P	-6.771	229	.000	-.291	-.38	-.21
Q.Q	-23.854	229	.000	-.713	-.77	-.65
Q.R	-21.547	229	.000	-.678	-.74	-.62
Q.S	-2.638	229	.009	-.091	-.16	-.02

Table3 -: Distribution of farm women according to their socio-economic characteristic of Sikkim State

*Character	Age				Education						Land holding				Status of Land holding			Ownership of Land holding(Gender-wise)
*Character	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	5	6	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	1	2	3	4
Respondents	126	95	09	230	48	89	66	19	08	230	147	65	18	230	207	23	230	120	16	94	230
Percent ( % )	55	41	04	100	21	39	29	08	03	100	64	28	08	100	90	10	100	52	07	41	100

*Character: Age- 1- 20 – 39, 2- 40 – 59, 3- 60 and above, 4- Total.

Education -1 Illiterate, 2 Primary, 3 Middle, 4 Matric, 5 Secondary, 6 Total.

Land holding- 1 Small farmers, 2 Medium farmers, 3 Large farmers, 4 Total.

Status of Land holding- 1 Land owned, 2 Land possessed but not owned, 3 Total.

Ownership of Land holding (Gender-wise) - 1 Male, 2 Female, 3 Both, 4 Total.

Table 3.1 - : Percentage participation of sample female farmers in Farm/Animal and related activities according to their socio-economic condition at selected sites of Sikkim state

Farm and related activities	Age group									Land holding
	20–39			40-59			60 and above			Small farmer			Medium farmer			Large farmer
	M	F	B	M	F	B	M	F	B	M	F	B	M	F	B	M	F	B
Ploughing of Fields	75	0	25	70	0	30	44	0	56	75	0	25	66	0	34	66	0	34
Sowing of seeds	02	36	62	02	43	55	00	56	44	02	39	59	01	43	56	06	33	61
Weeding	13	31	56	10	27	63	11	33	56	14	30	56	06	32	62	11	11	78
Harvesting	05	32	63	04	26	70	00	44	56	03	33	64	05	26	69	11	17	72
Threshing	18	18	64	20	22	58	22	11	67	19	21	60	20	19	61	11	11	78
Winnowing	20	25	55	29	28	43	0	44	56	26	26	48	17	28	55	28	22	50
Storage of grains and fodder	26	13	61	29	19	52	11	11	78	29	14	57	25	23	52	17	0	83
Collection of fodder/fuel from fields / forest / community land	24	12	64	28	18	54	22	11	67	28	14	58	28	15	57	0	11	89
Procurement of feed and fodder from the market	35	14	51	36	12	52	22	11	67	37	16	48	34	12	54	22	0	78
Cleaning of the animals an their shed	23	09	68	31	04	65	44	12	44	24	07	69	32	08	60	33	0	67
Feeding of animals	03	22	75	09	17	74	0	11	89	04	22	74	08	17	75	11	06	83
Watering	06	28	66	13	23	64	0	44	56	06	29	65	14	23	63	06	22	72
getting green fodder from fields / forest / community land	19	20	61	27	27	46	33	11	56	20	22	58	28	25	48	33	17	50
Milking	15	26	59	19	27	54	0	33	67	14	30	56	25	25	51	06	11	83
Milk disposal	13	37	50	07	33	60	11	33	56	12	37	51	09	34	57	06	22	72
Traditional health care to animals	39	11	50	41	11	48	44	12	44	42	12	46	38	11	51	33	0	67
Vaccination and visits to animal hospitals	70	0	30	74	0	26	67	0	33	73	0	27	71	0	29	61	0	39
Breeding of animals	71	0	29	64	01	35	67	0	33	73	0	27	65	01	34	39	0	61
Traditional care of fields and crops	21	09	70	18	07	75	0	33	67	20	12	68	20	08	72	06	0	94

On the basis of ownership of land holding (Table 3.2), the percentage data of sample farmers at selected sites of Sikkim State shows relatively more percentage of landless to land owned female sample farmers independently participating in activities like sowing of seeds, weeding, harvesting, collection of fodder/fuel, procurement of feed and fodder from the market, cleaning of the animals/shed, feeding of animals, watering. In activities like cleaning of the animals/shed, feeding of animals, watering, getting green fodder from fields / forest / community land, care of fields/crops and harvesting, more percentage of landless female sample farmers (more than 50%) has been observed jointly involving in such activities. In the category of landless female sample farmers (almost 50% or more), more percentage of independent male dominance has been noticed in activities like ploughing, threshing, winnowing, storage of grains and fodder, collection of fodder/fuel, procurement of feed and fodder from the market, milking, vaccination/visits to animal hospitals and breeding of animals for these farmers.

On the other hand relatively more percentage of land owners to landless female sample farmers has been observed independently participating in activities like threshing, winnowing, storage of grains and fodder, getting green fodder from fields / forest / community land, milking, milk disposal, traditional health care to animals. Independent male dominance was discovered in ploughing, vaccination/visits to animal hospitals and breeding of animals for this category of female farmers (almost 50% or more). In rest of the activities, joint involvement of both the genders was observed for land owned female sample farmers (more than 50%).

5.2.3 Education and participation in different activities

Data presented in Table 3.2 indicates that there is a strong impact of education level on laborious farm and animal related activities. Comparatively more percentage of illiterate farm women has been spotted participating in these types of activities.

Table 3.2 - : Percentage participation of sample female farmers in Farm/Animal and related activities according to their socio-economic condition at selected sites of Sikkim state

Farm and related activities	Education level															Land Possession
	Illiterate			Primary			Middle			Matric			Secondary			Land Own			Land Not Own
	M	F	B	M	F	B	M	F	B	M	F	B	M	F	B	M	F	B	M	F	B
Ploughing of Fields	81	0	19	64	0	36	74	0	26	68	0	32	100	0	0	70	0	30	91	0	09
Sowing of seeds	0	52	48	04	35	61	02	42	56	0	32	68	0	12	88	02	38	60	04	57	39
Weeding	13	33	54	15	30	55	05	27	68	10	21	69	12	37	51	10	28	62	22	39	39
Harvesting	04	29	67	07	28	65	02	27	31	0	47	53	12	25	63	04	29	67	09	35	56
Threshing	25	25	50	19	18	63	15	18	67	13	24	63	25	0	75	16	20	64	39	13	48
Winnowing	31	27	42	24	25	51	15	24	61	21	26	53	37	50	13	20	28	52	52	09	39
Storage of grains and fodder	33	08	59	27	19	54	22	14	64	21	21	58	37	13	50	25	16	59	48	09	43
Collection of fodder/fuel	23	15	62	30	15	55	22	14	64	26	16	58	12	12	76	24	13	63	44	26	30
Procurement of feed and fodder from the market	42	19	40	44	10	46	24	15	61	16	16	68	25	0	75	33	13	54	48	22	30
Cleaning of the animals/shed	35	04	61	25	09	66	17	08	75	42	0	58	50	12	38	28	06	66	22	13	65
Feeding of animals	06	21	73	06	21	73	03	21	76	11	05	84	12	12	76	06	19	75	04	26	70
Watering	21	33	46	05	30	65	08	20	72	05	16	79	0	25	75	08	26	66	08	35	57
getting green fodder from fields / forest / community land	42	23	35	17	25	58	20	23	57	26	21	53	0	0	100	23	23	54	26	18	56
Milking	23	23	54	15	29	56	14	26	60	10	37	53	25	12	63	12	28	60	57	17	26
Milk disposal	08	44	48	14	33	53	08	32	60	05	37	58	12	25	63	08	36	56	30	26	44
Traditional health care to animals	42	14	44	47	11	42	35	08	57	10	16	74	63	0	37	39	11	50	48	08	44
Vaccination/visits to animal hospitals	88	0	12	72	0	28	62	0	38	63	0	37	62	0	38	70	0	30	87	0	13
Breeding of animals	73	0	27	68	0	32	62	01	37	63	0	37	100	0	0	66	01	33	87	0	13
Care of fields/crops	17	17	66	25	05	70	14	09	77	16	16	68	12	0	88	18	09	73	22	13	65

On the basis of education, the percentage data of sample farmers at selected sites of Sikkim State shows independent female participation in sowing, harvesting, weeding, threshing, winnowing, collection of fodder/fuel, milking and milk disposal for all education level. But, maximum percentage of illiterate female respondent was found participating in sowing (52%), milk disposal (44%), threshing (25%), secondary level educated was found in winnowing (50%), weeding (37%), matric level educated was found in harvesting (47%), milking (37%). The least percentage of sample farmers at secondary level was noticed participating in all above mentioned activities except for winnowing and weeding, for which least was found at matric level. Secondary level female farmers were located jointly participating in rest of the activities. Almost same percentage at all education level was noticed for collection of fodder/fuel. Very interestingly, negligible or almost trifling male percentage was observed for all these activities. Women get better chances for making decision also in these activities. Male dominance has been noticed so overriding for vaccination/visits to animal hospitals; breeding of animals and ploughing at all level of education that joint participation also did not show very significant percentage for these activities, even showed nil percentage at secondary level.

6. CONCLUSION

On the basis of above findings of the data, we can conclude that since operational holdings in the area are very small and also the terrain is steep, mechanization of agriculture is still a distant reality. Due to this, agriculture practices require very high human energy inputs and are full of drudgery. The participation data of female sample farmers in farm/animal and related activities found more than 50 percent of respondents as jointly partaking (both men and women) in most of these activities. The bullocks were widely found used for ploughing in view of the fact that mechanized farming is difficult in the state because of the hilly terrain. This activity is mainly carried out by male member of the family/hired labour.

In most parts of the world, men and women tend to perform different tasks. Numerous time allocation studies have examined this issue (McSweeney 1979; Pala 1983; Hirschman and Vaughan 1984; Saito 1994). These studies often identify some tasks as men’s tasks and some as women’s tasks. The findings of the researcher’s data are also in line with this view. Sample female farmers reported that though men were responsible for ploughing, vaccination/visits to animal hospitals; breeding of animals, irrigation of field, embankment and work which require intensive use of spade on work for long hours or may be at night while women were clearly responsible for hand digging, sowing, harvesting, weeding, threshing, winnowing, collection of fodder/fuel, milking and milk disposal independently but joint participation in all the activities is reported by most of the female farmers. (Pala 1983) also held the similar view for Kenya. Nonetheless, there are relatively fewer tasks where independent gender participation is documented (Guyer 1980; von Braun and Webb 1989). Though tasks may be viewed as women’s or men’s, in practice, the divisions are blurred with both men and women involved in many tasks.

The land holding data of sample farmwomen revealed 64% as small farmers (<2h a). As a result subsistence farming is prevalent here and production is mainly done for consumption purpose. In the absence of good marketing facility the farmers grow a little bit of everything that he requires. Low scale of operation does not generate much surplus to be taken to the market. In spite of the State being declared an Organic one yet inputs like organic seeds/saplings are not timely available and in sufficient quantity. This forces farmers to use HYV seeds which are not organic. There is scarcity of good post harvesting processing and storage facilities. However, most of them reported, were selling vegetables in local vicinity. Post-harvest activity like storage etc. was not recorded much in the areas and confined mainly to household level. Moreover, storage facility for crops in all the districts is almost negligible in the State. More than rice, they were

engaged growing maize, which is used for consumption, feed/fodder as well as a little bit for commercial purpose.

About more than half of the women (52%) are deprived of access to land either singly or jointly, which led to serious constraints on getting credit and increasing their productive capacity. Lack of education and training, fewer opportunities for employment and financial constraints were the obstacles stopping the respondents from inheriting, using and securing land. Moreover, they are not well equipped for land related deals etc., sale of produce of land except vegetables or to reach the land which is scattered at a distant place.

7. SUGGESTIONS:

Keeping in view the above mentioned problems/needs of the area and conclusions derived there from, the researcher has made a fair endeavor to suggest some points for the upliftment of the beneficiaries.

Tertiary sector in the State is budding enormously. Consequently, a lot of male rural population has migrated from rural area to these expansion sites to add extra source to income and to get rid of hardship of agriculture sector. Even if migrants return, there may be a reluctance to take up agriculture again. Hence, women's participation in the smallholder sector contributing to food supply, always central, becomes indispensable. This is the rationale behind the data of (25-45%) of sample female farmers for all the categories of age and education in documenting the independent participation in sowing, weeding, harvesting, milking and milk disposal. Even their children extend them helping hand mainly for milk disposal while going to school and getting green grass/fuel after coming back from school. Hence, lucrative policies designed to overcome the hardship faced by farm women left behind is of core importance, so that food supply does not get affected. This initiative is also essential so that these farm women can be prevented from getting accustomed to the cash remittances by male members and there by shifting their production and consumption patterns. (Chaney M. Elsa and Lewis W. Martha, 1985) also holds the similar view.

In spite of the fact that gas connections have been distributed by the State government, still the vast majority of rural women still depend on the locally available non-commercial sources of energy such as animal dung, crop waste and fuel wood. In order to ensure the efficient use of these energy resources in an environmental friendly manner, efforts should aim at promoting the programmes of non-conventional energy resources. Women should be involved in spreading the use of solar energy, biogas, smokeless chulahs and other rural application so as to have a visible impact of these measures in influencing eco system and in changing the life styles of rural women. Time saved by adopting these measures can be utilized in some other productive chores like (marketing, processing) rather than in collecting fuel/firewood. Considering the impact of environmental factors on their livelihoods, women’s participation should be ensured in the conservation of the environment and control of environmental degradation thus maintaining climatic balance.

Since mechanized ploughing is difficult in the state because of the hilly terrain with steep slopes, bullocks are widely used both for cultivation and other agricultural operations. There is no denying the fact that there is a close nexus between farm power availability and agric productivity. But, at the same time law of diminishing return is also applicable in farm power availability and mechanization. Excessive mechanization does not bring rewards instead block the capital; add to overhead costs and at times cause indebtedness and its negative impacts. Agriculturally advanced states and regions in the country have farm power availability of 2-4 kW/ha. Here, it is suggested that if a group (SHG) of households/the entire village selects a suitable plot in a hill slope or pool up their land holdings and mechanically operate it, it can earn income to all of them. Along with this, multiple cropping rather than mono cropping is also recommended. For this, improvement in irrigation system is a must. But, the scope of mechanization in every unit operation of production agriculture, post-harvest, agro-processing and rural living cannot be ruled out. Females will really be relieved of their hardship in farming sector with these suggestions in place.

Another suggestion that emerges in marketing and making agriculture a commercial venture is branding the products so that they can be sold globally. The same product when produced by different farmer groups under different brand names usually does not reach the international market. It is important to organize these small farmers and make arrangements to market their pooled products under a major brand name. Organic products have a parallel market which, if captured in a strategic manner, can lead to the rapid development of these hill districts. As the organically produced products are free from chemical ingredient, it can fetch better prices. It is very crucial to mention here that the benefits so generated should directly reach the producer.

8. REFERENCES

· "Asia's women in agriculture, environment and rural production: India". Retrieved 2006-12-24.

· Census of India,2001. Economic characteristics of Indian Population, Office of the Registrar General, Government of India, New Delhi.

· Census (2011), available at http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/prov_data_products_sikkim.html

· ChandrakalaDiyali, A Situational Analysis of Women and Girls in Sikkim, National Commission for Women, New Delhi available at http://ncw.nic.in/pdfreports/Sikkim%20Book.pdf

· Chaney M. Elsa and Lewis W. Martha, 1985.Women, migration, and the decline of smallholder agriculture, Working Paper 97, October 1985.

· Guyer, Jane I. 1980. ‘Food, cocoa and the division of labour by sex in two West African societies’, Comparative Studies in Society and History, 22, (3): 355-73.

· Hirschmann, D., and M. Vaughan. 1984. Women Farmers of Malawi: Food Production in the Zomba District. Berkeley, California: University of California.

· KalyaniMenon-Sen, A. K. Shiva Kumar 2001. "Women in India: How Free? How Equal?".United Nations.Archived from the original on 2006-09-11.Retrieved 2006-12-24.

· McSweeney, B.G. 1979. Collection and analysis of data on rural women’s time use. Studies in Family Planning 10(11/ 12): 379–83

· Nandy, S.N. and Samal, P.K. 2005. An outlook of agricultural dependency in the IHR. ENVIS Newsletter : Himalayan Ecology 2 : 4-5.

· Pala, A.O. 1983. Women’s access to land and their role in agriculture and decision-making on the farm: experiences of the Joluo of Kenya. Journal of Eastern African Research and Development 13: 69–85.

· Prasad C. and Singh R.P., 1992 .Farm Women : A precious Resource. in Women in Agriculture, Vol. 2, Education, Training and Development edited by R.K. Punia, 1992, Northern Book Centre, Ansari Road, New Delhi.

· Saito, K.A. 1994. Raising the Productivity of Women Farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. World Bank Discussion Paper No. 230. Washington, DC: World Bank.

· Singh, S., and Hoge, G. 2010. Debating Outcomes for ‘Working’ Women – Illustration from India, The Journal of Poverty, 14 (2), 197-215

· Swaminathan M. S. 1985. Imparting rural women perspective to agricultural research and development . Report of the Project Design Workshop on Women in Rice Farming Systems, held at the International Rice Research Institute, Los Banos, Philippines, April

· Von Braun, J., and P.J.R. Webb 1989. The impact of new crop technology on the agricultural division of labor in a West African setting. Economic Development and Cultural Change 37(3): 513–34.

Received on 29.05.2012 Accepted on 29.06.2012

Asian J. Management 3(3): July-Sept., 2012 page 139-148

District/ State	Total area(sq.km)	%of total area	Population Concentration	% 0f total Population	Total no. of circle	Total no. of circles sampled	No.of female sample farmers
East	954	13.5	2,45,040	45.3	21	06	80
West	1166	16.5	1,23,256	22.8	21	06	60
North	4226	59.5	41,030	7.6	07	04	30
South	750	10.5	1,31,525	24.3	23	08	60
Sikkim	7096	100	5,40,851	100	72	24	230