1.1 Agriculture and Allied Sector

Agriculture is the mainstay of the Indian economy because of its high share in employment and livelihood creation. It supports more than half a billion people providing employment to 52 per cent of the workforce. Its contribution to the nation's GDP is about 18.5 per cent in 2006-07. It is also an important source of raw material and demand for many industrial products, particularly fertilizers, pesticides, agricultural implements and a variety of consumer goods.

Agriculture and allied' industry is further divided into several segments, namely - horticulture and its allied sectors (including fruits and vegetables, flowers, plantation crops, spices, aromatic and medicinal plants); fisheries sector; animal husbandry and livestock; and sericulture. India's varied agro-climatic conditions are highly favourable for the growth of large number of horticultural crops, which occupy around 10 per cent of gross cropped area of the country producing 160.75 million tons. Agriculture and allied sectors have contributed 25.2 per cent to the gross state domestic product (GSDP) of Sikkim (http://business.gov.in/agriculture/animal.php).

1.2 Sericulture

Silk is a way of life in India. Over thousands of years, it has become an inseparable part of Indian culture and tradition. No ritual is complete without silk being used as a wear in some form or the other and is also called as The Queen of Textiles. It is characterized by exquisite qualities like the natural sheen, inherent affinity for dyes, vibrant colours, high absorbance, light weight, resilience and excellent drape, etc. Sericulture and Silk Textiles Industry is one of the major sub-sectors comprising the textiles sector. Sericulture is an agro-based cottage industry. Sericulture refers to the mass-scale rearing of silk producing organisms in order to obtain silk. Sericulture is an agro-based labour intensive industry. The major activities involved in a sericulture industry are:

a) Cultivation of silkworm food plants

b) Rearing of silkworms for the production of raw silk

c) Reeling the cocoons for unwinding the silk filament and

d) Other post-cocoon processes such as twisting, dyeing, weaving, printing and finishing.

Sericulture is one of the most labour intensive sectors, combining activities of both agriculture (sericulture) and industry. India is ranked as the second major raw silk producer in the world. It is this position along with its immense employment potential that makes sericulture and silk, indispensable in the Indian textile map.

Sericulture is one of the rural based agro industries with global reach. While providing sustainable income and employment opportunities to the rural poor who are the main practitioners, silk production activity fetches annual export earnings of more than US$600 million (http://www.seri.ap.gov.in/poten_part_women_seri.pdf).

Some unique features of the silk sector are its rural nature, agro based, ecologically and economically sustainable activity for the poor, small and marginal farmers, agriculture labour and women in particular. Many studies indicated that 60% of the activities in the pre-cocoon and post-cocoon sectors are carried out by women.

2. LITERATURE SURVEY

2.1 Women in Sericulture

Sericulture is a small scale industry which is an important entrepreneur for rural families. The role of women as agricultural labourers in mulberry cultivation is important because mulberry garden requires labour from the beginning for pruning, weeding, application of farm yard manure, fertilizers and other jobs. An acre of land optimally requires 10 labourers out of which 7 would be women (Rani Usha J., 2007). The main work involves plucking of leaves for feeding the silkworms. At the rearing houses the activities that are performed by women are as follows:

a) Cleaning the rearing house, before the silkworm are raised.

b) Getting the trays ready for further extension of bed.

c) Feeding the worms after the 3rd instar which has to be done 4-5 times per day.

d) Changing the bed in each of the trays. (At least 56-60 trays will be there, by the time they reach the 5th instar)

e) Placing the worms in the mount ages i.e. around 120 of them.

f) Harvesting the cocoon.

g) Cleaning the cocoon and removal of floss grading.

h) Marketing of cocoon though very few women takes up this job, as it takes time in the market. -

When the crop of rearing is over, women have to clean and get the trays smeared with cow dung and get ready for the next rearing.

(Chelladundi, 1999) in his study on ‘Employment generation in Sericulture’ concluded that sericulture provides two types of employment

a) Direct – mulberry cultivation and cocoon rearing

b) Indirect –Reeling, twisting, warping, dyeing and weaving.

The role of sericulture in generating employment and income is discussed in a very clear-cut manner. The criterion of employment and income in silk reeling units is also dealt with Radha (Krishna et al. 2000) in their study on ‘Silk and Milk- an economic package for rural upliftment’ explained that an acre of irrigated mulberry generates as much as one lakh rupees per year through transaction of cocoons and provide full employment to a minimum of 5 men throughout the year.

Silk is a high value but low volume product accounting for only 0.2 % of world's total textile production. It churns out value added products of economic importance.

2.2 Types of Silk

India holds the monopoly on producing the Muga silk. It is the only one cash crop in agriculture sector that gives returns within 30 days. Sericulture emerged as an important economic activity, becoming increasingly popular in several parts of the country, because of its short gestation period, quick recycling of resources. It suits very well to all types of farmers and exceptionally for marginal and small land holders as it offers rich opportunities for enhancement of income and creates own family employment round the year (http://business.gov.in/agriculture/current_scenario_sericulture.php).

There are five major types of silk of commercial importance, obtained from different species of silkworms. The five verities of silk may be divided into two broad categories:-

i.) Mulberry Silk

ii.) Vanya Silk or Non-Mulberry Silk (all other varieties of silk fall in this category)

i.) Mulberry Silk

It comes from the silkworm, Bombyx mori L. which solely feeds on the leaves of mulberry plant. The bulk of the commercial silk produced in the world comes from this variety. In India, the major mulberry silk producing States are Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Jammu and Kashmir which together accounts for 92 % of country's total mulberry raw silk production.

• Climate

Mulberry can be grown up to 800 m MSL. For the optimum growth of mulberry and good sprouting of the buds, the mean atmospheric temperature should be in the range of 13o C to 37.70 C. The ideal temperature should be between 24 and 280 C with relative humidity of 65 to 80 percent and sun shine duration of 5 to 12 hours per day.

Mulberry can be grown in a rainfall range of 600mm to 2500mm. Under low rainfall conditions, the growth is limited and requires supplemental irrigation. On an average, 50mm once in 10 days is considered ideal for mulberry.

• Soil

Slightly acidic soils (6.2 to 6.8 Phosphorus) free from injurious salts are ideal for good growth of mulberry plant. Saline and alkaline soils are not preferred.

ii.) Temperate Tasar Silk:

It is generated by the silkworm, Antheraea mylitta which mainly thrive on the food plants Asan and Arjun. Tasar (Tussah) is a copperish colour, coarse silk mainly used for furnishings and interiors. In India, the major tasar silk producing States are Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Orissa, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh.

a) Tropical Tasar silk or Oak Tasar Silk:

It is a finer variety of tasar generated by the silkworm, Antheraea proyeli J. which feeds on natural food plants of oak. In India, it is mainly produced in the sub-Himalayan belt of India covering the States of Manipur, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya and Jammu and Kashmir.

b) Muga Silk:

It is a golden yellow colour silk obtained from semi-domesticated multivoltine silkworm, Antheraea assamensis. These silkworms feed on the aromatic leaves of Som and Soalu plants. Muga Silk is the pride of Assam and is an integral part of the tradition and culture of the State.

c) Eri Silk (or Endi or Errandi):

It is the product of a domesticated silkworm, Philosamia ricini that feeds mainly on castor leaves. It is a multivoltine silk spun from open-ended cocoons, unlike other varieties of silk. In India, this culture is practiced mainly in the North-Eastern States including Assam. It is also found in Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa. Ericulture is a household activity practiced mainly for protein rich pupae, a delicacy for the tribal. Resultantly, the eri cocoons are open-mouthed and are spun. The silk is used indigenously for preparation of chaddars (wraps) for own use by these tribals.

Geographically, Asia is the main producer of silk in the world and produces over 95 % of the total global output. But, bulk of it is produced in China, India, Japan, Brazil and Korea. India is ranked as the second major raw silk producer in the world. It contributes about 18% to the total world raw silk production.

Among the varieties of silk produced, mulberry silk accounts for 89.45%, followed by eri, tasar and muga at 8.04%, 1.89 and 0.62%, respectively. About 40-45% of silk produced is from charka and about 40-45% is from cottage basins and the rest 10% silk is from multi-end reeling. It is this position along with its immense employment potential that makes sericulture and silk, indispensable in the Indian textile map. It is practiced in about 53,814 villages all over the country. It provides employment to about 6 million people, most of them being small and marginal farmers, or tiny and household industry mainly in rural areas. (http://business.gov.in/agriculture/state_departments_sericulture.php#top).

Sericulture is an eco-friendly agro-based labour intensive rural cottage industry providing subsidiary employment and supplementing the income of rural farmers especially the economically weaker section of the society.

In the development of sericulture industry, the role of State Governments has customarily been the expansion of sericulture activity and provision of farmer level extension as well as other support services, including credit facilitation.

India being blessed with prevalence of favourable climatic conditions, mulberry is cultivated in almost all states. But, traditionally sericulture is practiced in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir, which together accounts for 92 % of country's total mulberry raw silk production in the country. Muga is twined with the culture of Assam and has the monopoly. In the recent years, muga rearing is extended to other states like Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal. Now, as a result of growing realization, sericulture is gaining ground in non-traditional areas too. Sericulture and Weaving in Meghalaya are the two most important cottage based, eco-friendly industries in the rural areas. The thrust area under sericulture sector is to boost up cocoon and silk production by development of systematic and economic plantation at sericultural farmers level so as to enhance the productivity per unit area. In-service training of technical personnel and training for the educated unemployed youth for self-employment are also provided. Andhra Pradesh produces all the four popular varieties of Silk worm cocoons namely Mulberry, Tasar, Eri and Muga. In Tamilnadu, the Handlooms, Handicrafts, Textiles and Khadi Department was formed in 1985. It is also concerned with the development of Sericulture in the State for the welfare of weavers / artisans.

(http://business.gov.in/agriculture/policies_schemes_sericulture.php)

2.3 Policies and Schemes

There are several centrally sponsored schemes for promotion and development of sericulture sector, through which Government of India has been undertaking different activities like:

1) Creation of sericulture related infrastructure;

2) Development of nurseries and farms;

3) Expanding plantation areas;

4) Providing technical know-how to the rearers in production and marketing of cocoons;

5) Skill up-gradation and training programme, etc.

The Central Silk Board has been implementing the catalytic development programme for development of sericulture in collaboration with the State Governments and also through the cluster approach/SGSY programme of the Ministry of Rural Development.

It aims to promote adoption of improved technology practices in various activities like host plantation, seed production, rearing of silkworm, reeling and twisting, weaving, printing and dyeing for enhancement of production and productivity as well as up gradation of the quality of silk.

The basic objectives of the programme are technology absorption, investment generation, productivity improvement and employment generation. Supports is also given in the operations ranging from food plant cultivation to marketing of products in mulberry, tasar, eri, muga silk and producing quality cocoons and raw silk in the silk producing States. For this, financial assistance with the subsidy/assistance is also to be provided to the beneficiaries by both Silk Board and the concerned State Government.

Support and incentives are provided mainly to small and marginal farmers and small entrepreneurs, under both on-farm and off-farm activities, in mulberry and non-mulberry sectors. The Central Silk Board has been implementing various schemes/projects for the development of sericulture by monitoring the flow of funds. It also plays a pivotal role in advising the Government on matters related to the silk industry.

2.4 Some more valuable information in mulberry cultivation and sericulture-

These are some of the answers for the queries of the problems faced while carrying out sericulture with mulberry plantation in Pampore, which can prove to be very helpful, whosoever will be facing problem while carrying out such activity.

Tree plantation of mulberry is to be carried out in the month of July (rainy season). However, under temperate conditions, it is done in the month of March and October. For mulberry plantation the soil should be slightly acidic (pH 6.2 to 6.8). Make bundle of 20 kilograms and preserve in vertical position as moisture loss in such position is minimum. Mulberry shoots are to be transported during cooler hours of the day. If they are to be transported to long distance and takes more than 30 minutes, they should be covered with wet gunny cloth, polythene sheet to reduce moisture loss from the leaf. However, for qualitative production of leaves the recommended package of practices, use of integrated nutrient management and integrated disease, insect and pest management is to be followed. So many intercrops can be grown with mulberry. The studies conducted at CSR and TI, Pampore have revealed that crops like saffron, peas, and beans can be cultivated as intercrop with mulberry without affecting the leaf quality and yield. The different high yielding mulberry varieties that can be grown as tree under Kashmir conditions are Goshoerami, KNG and TR-10 to get quality foliage besides high yield. The most preferable season for planting mulberry saplings in Kashmir is 1st week of March and October-November. Sericulture department of the state or its subunits in the particular area can be contacted. Serichlor’ is used to disinfect the rearing houses. However, as it is carried out by the Government agencies, farmers will have not to bother. The quantity of solution required for disinfection of rearing houses is @ 2.0 liters / sq. meter or 140 ml / sq. ft. the hygienic measures which are required to be followed during rearing are - avoid borrowing rearing appliances, do not use appliances without disinfections, restrict entry of persons into rearing house, persons entering the rearing house must disinfect feet and hands before entering, sprinkle 5% bleaching powder in slaked lime at the passage of entrance, wipe the floor after each bed cleaning. Bed disinfectants used for prevention of diseases are RKO, Resham Jyothi, Vijetha, Ankush etc. Vijetha as bed disinfectant was tested and was found to give best result over others. There should be cross ventilation as higher % of CO2 in the rearing house is injurious to health of larvae. Spinning larvae can be identified by these features - these larvae feed less, become soft, litter becomes light brown colored which can be crushed with fingers, skin becomes gradually transparent, crawl here and there in search of space for spinning, larvae tend to move to darker areas.( http://www.csb.gov.in/faq/csrti-pampore/)

In reality, it is an occupation by women and for women, because women form more than 60% of the workforce and 80% of silk is consumed by them. The nature of work involved in the sericulture industry such as harvesting of leaves, rearing of silkworm, spinning or reeling of silk yarn and weaving are carried out by women. Keeping in mind the major role played by the women in the industry, exhaustive training programmes have been organized for them. Till date, about 2500 farm women have been trained from different States like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Maharashtra. Important disciplines which boosts the skill and income like Integrated Nutrient and Disease Management, Young Age silkworm Rearing, Composite Rearing, Integrated Pest and Disease Management, Silkworm Seed Production, Value Addition to Byproducts of Sericulture Industry and Drudgery reduction through ergonomically sound appliances are intensively covered during the training.

Due to continuous R and D output in sericulture, several technologies have been evolved and due to this, production cost of cocoon has been reduced considerably. Recently, with the enforcement of these new research findings both in mulberry cultivation and silkworm handling has become more economical, the silk industry is now being practiced as a main profession and as a major cash crop of the country in many States (http://business.gov.in/agriculture/ future_prospects_sericulture.php).

2.5 Hindrances of Sericulture

The Indian sericulture industry is currently facing several problems which have restricted full utilization of its potential. Some of the major problems are given below.

• Produce Good Quality Bivoltine Silk:

Indian silk yarn is of poor quality, which not only affects our competitiveness in the world market, but has also resulted in a preference for imported yarn in the domestic market. Though the Indian breeds have the potential to produce the good quality of bivoltine silk, the problem arises due to lack of:

a) Sufficient thrust on the adoption of improved technologies;

b) Strict disease control measures;

c) Quality leaf due to insufficient inputs to mulberry garden;

d) Appropriate montages;

e) Grading system for cocoons;

f) Quality-based pricing system as well as use of young age silkworms.

Bivoltine yarn is sturdier and is used by the power loom industry. But only 5% of the silk produced in India is bivoltine because its production requires much more attention and resources. It also yields just two crops in a year, as against the yield of four to six crops by multi-voltine silk. Even the farmers do not have any incentive to switch to bivoltine silk yarn production because the difference between the selling price of bivoltine and multivoltine silk is not much.

• The Other Factors Responsible for it are:

a) Insufficient adoption and proliferation of technology packages developed through Research and Development efforts;

b) No effort to increase the area under mulberry;

c) Fragmented and ad hoc approach;

d) Non-involvement of private partners in a big way in seed production; farming and reeling;

e) Non-penetration of the schemes;

f) Improper forward and backward linkages; and

g) Dumping of cheap Chinese raw silk and fabric.

It is necessary to encourage farmers to move from production of multivoltine silk to bivoltine silk through proper incentives. At the same time it must be ensured that adequate amount of multivoltine is available for the handloom sector to continue production.

Its production in the country continues to be unsteady and fluctuates from year to year. With its uniqueness, non-mulberry silk production in India has a great potential for value added exports.

• Need for Quality Based Pricing:

Reeling sector is an input-dependent activity and its operations are influenced heavily by three factors, namely, cocoon quality, cocoon price, and cocoon supply. But due to absence of quality-based price fixation, there has been very little quality control.

Given the fact that the scope for enhancing the production of silk in the country by expanding the cultivable area is limited, hence, vertical expansion through productivity increase by using advanced technology and skilled man-power is the only option. In fact, emergence of new sericulture technology has not only reduced the production risks (drudgery) but has also increased the potential cocoon yield/unit area, relative to the traditional technology.

2.6 Sericulture in Sikkim

The practice of sericulture farming is rural /farmer oriented and is aimed at increasing the income level of poor and backward farmers. The sericulture programme has been being implemented in the state, its real push and momentum was given by the government in 1998 when it announced rupees five crores in five year plans. It was soon followed by the creation of a separate directorate under the forest, environment and wildlife department to function as a distinct identity. Facilities such as providing low cost rearing houses, mulberry saplings, silkworm seeds, rearing appliances are being given. One month long training programmes are being conducted at Jorethang centre. Mulberry, Muga, Eri, Oak-Tussar and silk are cultivated in Sikkim. The Sericulture Department of Sikkim promotes exports of silk from Sikkim. The State has a suitable climate for agricultural and horticultural products.

2.6.1 Zonation of Sikkim

Sikkim can basically be divided into five ranges climatically viz.- Tropical-below 610 meters, Sub-Tropical-610 to 1524 meters, Temperate-1524 to 2743 meters, Sub-Alpine 2743 to 3962 meters and Alpine 3962 to 5182 meters. Sikkim can basically be divided into three zones in describing the aspects of vegetation viz. - Tropical-from sea level to 1700 meters, Temperate-1700 to 4300 meters and Alpine 4300 to 5000 meters. .Soil is all acidic, having PH ranging from 4.3 to 6.4 with mean value 5.37(Agriculture Department (soil), Government of Sikkim).

2.6.2 Awareness of Citizens is the Key to Measurable Development

National Bank for Rural and Agriculture Development (NABARD) has been playing a pivotal role in training and bringing awareness among the farmers about agro-horticulture produces of Sikkim like orange and guava through 222 Farmers Club (PIC AT DUGA, website). Sikkim is the first State in the country to establish Board of Livelihood School aimed at providing skill up gradation to even the non-literate and the semi-literate youths. Keeping in view the importance of capacity along with education, the State government has been striving to equip each and every youth irrespective of their education with adequate skills to enable them to sustain their livelihood in meaningful manner.

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.

4. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

4.1 Universe or population

The universe or population for the study consisted of total number of married females in rural areas who are employed in farming in the state of Sikkim. This formed 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 & 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 & South) distribution of circles selected is 6, 6, 4 & 8 respectively. A total of 80 females of farming community from East, 30 from North and 60 each from West & 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 & 30 from East, West, North & 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.

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.

Table-3-One-Sample Test

	Test Value = 5
					95% Confidence Interval of the Difference
	t	df	Sig. (2-tailed)	Mean Difference	Lower	Upper
Q.6A	15.923	229	.000	2.574	2.26	2.89
Q.6B	22.903	229	.000	3.117	2.85	3.39

Source: Field Survey

Table -4-Degree of answer for doing anything except agriculture-Q.6A

Valid	Strong Negative 1	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Strong Negative 1	5	2.2	2.2	2.2
	2	6	2.6	2.6	4.8
	3	3	1.3	1.3	6.1
	4	13	5.7	5.7	11.7
	5	28	12.2	12.2	23.9
	6	23	10.0	10.0	33.9
	7	12	5.2	5.2	39.1
	8	26	11.3	11.3	50.4
	9	46	20.0	20.0	70.4
	Strong positive 10	68	29.6	29.6	100.0
Total		230	100.0	100.0

Source: Field Survey

Table -5- Frequency of various options

		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	POULTRY	99	43.0	43.0	43.0
	FISH FARMING	20	8.7	8.7	51.7
	COW	89	38.7	38.7	90.4
	SILKWORM/HONEY BEE	12	5.2	5.2	95.7
	OTHERS	10	4.3	4.3	100.0
Total		230	100.0	100.0

Source: Field Survey

Table -6-Degree of answer for their views to opt for any entrepreneurial activity-Q.6B

		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Strong Negative 1	4	1.7	1.7	1.7
	2	2	.9	.9	2.6
	3	1	.4	.4	3.0
	4	11	4.8	4.8	7.8
	5	11	4.8	4.8	12.6
	6	13	5.7	5.7	18.3
	7	17	7.4	7.4	25.7
	8	54	23.5	23.5	49.1
	9	42	18.3	18.3	67.4
	Strong positive 10	75	32.6	32.6	100.0
	Total	230	100.0	100.0

Source: Field Survey

Since 75% of the respondents rated their view for this question above 5. This shows the inclination of the view towards positive side. So, we can say that most of the female farmers are interested for doing anything except agriculture.

· Inferential analysis for Views about Doing anything except agriculture

From the table 3 we find that confidence intervals lie entirely above 0.0 and also it is positive. The value of ‘t’ for the Females Farmers view about given a chance, whether they would like to do anything except agriculture is 15.923 which is higher than 1.96, mean difference column for it also shows positive values. This is further confirmed by significance levels which are 0.00 and also by confidence intervals, both limits of which lie entirely above 0.0 for it. We can safely say that null hypothesis for this view is rejected and thus alternate hypothesis for it is accepted, which says that more number of sample female farmers would like to do anything except agriculture. Further, we conclude it by saying that significantly more number of sample female farmers on an average are interested in and hold the view of doing anything except agriculture.

4.5.2 Views to opt for any entrepreneurial activity (B)

· Parameter Details:

Statistics for views to opt for any entrepreneurial activity (B), of Females Farmers is shown in the Table-2 above. From the table we find that there are 230 valid scores and value of mean for it is 8.12. Standard deviation is 2.064 and standard error of mean is 0.136.

Table-5 depicts the frequency of various options sample female farmers selected. It shows that 43% females have opted for poultry, 09% females have opted for fish farming, 39% females have opted for cow, 05% females have opted for silkworm/honey bee and 04% females have opted for others.

Table -7 Q-6 B * District Cross tabulation

			District				Total
			East	West	North	South	Total
Q.5.7	POULTRY	Count	32	27	11	29	99
		% within Q.5.7	32.3%	27.3%	11.1%	29.3%	100.0%
		% within District	40.0%	45.0%	36.7%	48.3%	43.0%
		% of Total	13.9%	11.7%	4.8%	12.6%	43.0%
	FISH FARMING	Count	9	4	4	3	20
		% within Q.5.7	45.0%	20.0%	20.0%	15.0%	100.0%
		% within District	11.3%	6.7%	13.3%	5.0%	8.7%
		% of Total	3.9%	1.7%	1.7%	1.3%	8.7%
	COW	Count	28	24	13	24	89
		% within Q.5.7	31.5%	27.0%	14.6%	27.0%	100.0%
		% within District	35.0%	40.0%	43.3%	40.0%	38.7%
		% of Total	12.2%	10.4%	5.7%	10.4%	38.7%
	SILKWORM/HONEY BEE	Count	8	0	1	3	12
		% within Q.5.7	66.7%	.0%	8.3%	25.0%	100.0%
		% within District	10.0%	.0%	3.3%	5.0%	5.2%
		% of Total	3.5%	.0%	.4%	1.3%	5.2%
	OTHERS	Count	3	5	1	1	10
		% within Q.5.7	30.0%	50.0%	10.0%	10.0%	100.0%
		% within District	3.8%	8.3%	3.3%	1.7%	4.3%
		% of Total	1.3%	2.2%	.4%	.4%	4.3%
Total		Count	80	60	30	60	230
		% within Q.5.7	34.8%	26.1%	13.0%	26.1%	100.0%
		% within District	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%
		% of Total	34.8%	26.1%	13.0%	26.1%	100.0%

District/ State	Total area (sq.km)	%of total area	Population Concentration	% of 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

	N	Mean	Std. Deviation	Std. Error Mean
Q.6A	230	7.57	2.451	.162
Q.6B	230	8.12	2.064	.136