Challenges Faced by Women Collectives in Lease Land Farming in Thrissur District, Kerala State

Abstract

Lease land farming by women collectives is an initiative introduced by Kudumbashree to encourage cultivation among self - help groups. It not only contributes to significant changes in the lives of women farmers but also helps to increase agricultural production by bringing the fallow and cultivable waste- land into agricultural use. The present study was conducted in Thrissur district from June to August 2022. An ex-post- facto research design was used. Two blocks, Kodakara and Ollukkara, representing more area of banana and vegetable respectively under leased land farming were selected. From these blocks, two panchayats each, were randomly selected. From Kodakara, Mattathur and Kodakara and from Ollukkara, Nadathara and Puthur panchayats were selected for the purpose. From these two panchayats, fifteen women joint liability groups were selected randomly, comprising 60 women farmers each who cultivate vegetables and banana under leased land. Thus, the total sample comprised of 120 women farmers. The data were collected with the help of a semi - structured pre - tested interview schedule. Garrett ranking was employed to explore the challenges faced by women collective farmers. The challenges were categorised under four categories i,e., lease land related, group related, technical and supplies, and services. Among land related challenges, the non - legalized status of leasing was ranked as the most serious one where the mean score was 63.10. Absenteeism of members was ranked first, accounting for a mean score of 61.29, with respect to group related challenges. Improper maintenance of records on farm expenses (68.63) and price fluctuations (78.7) were ranked first in technical and supply challenges respectively.