Women empowerment through agricultural technology: Case study of Mymensingh-Bangladesh

Abstract

In Bangladesh, attention to women empowerment through agricultural technology adoption is not new, but it has not always been acted upon accordingly. This study attempts to carry out an investigation through using both quantitative and qualitative research tools to examine the extent of women's technology adoption in agriculture and their consequent empowerment attainment in selected villages of Mymensingh sadar. To achieve the objectives of the present study, necessary data were collected by using simple random sampling technique, the study selected total of 60 women respondents. The quantitative analytical tools employed to attain the specific objectives included various descriptive statistical measures, perception index and women empowerment index by adoption technology. The results of perception index analysis indicated that majority had moderate to high favorable perception on greater extent of women's engagement in adoption agricultural technology among which may had low to moderate favorable perception on consequent empowerment attainment. The findings show that almost in all cases, decision was taken jointly by male and female. It is very satisfactory case that decision is taken by female alone particularly in the cases purchase of agricultural equipment, maintenance of agricultural equipment, motivating to use agricultural technologies, selling of old machineries. The value of average women empowerment score is 1.81, which is below from the average empowerment score 2.