ROLE PERFORMANCE OF TRIBAL WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE - A STUDY IN AGENCY AREA OF EAST GODAVARI DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH

Abstract

Tribal women constitute half of the work force among tribals in India. Tribal women are discriminated, through they make enormous contribution to the agriculture and allied sectors. They have very little access to the knowledge and skills of modern farm technologies and related resources. The objective of the present study is to ascertain the work participation rate, their contribution to the family income and role performance of tribal women. A sample of 100 tribal farm women twenty five each from four panchayaths viz., (Thallapalem, Pedagedada, Bornagudem and Thantikonda) of two agency mandals (Rampachodavaram and Rajavommangi) in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh were selected based on stratified random sampling procedure. The tribal women work for about 12 to 15 hours per day involving in agriculture and allied activities. The tribal women collect minor forest produce like Amla, Soapnuts, Shikakai, Adda leaves, Hill brooms, Firewood, Bamboo, Gumkaraya (Kovela gum), and sell these products in the nearly shandy and exchange theproduce for their daily requirements through barter system. Results reveal that the work participation rate and role performance of tribal women in agriculture and allied sectors is high as compared to their male counterparts and contribute lion's share to the family income. The study revealed that lower the economic status of the family, the higher will be the contribution towards their family income.