A study on relationship of socio-economic variables with knowledge and adoption of rural women in Bihar

This study was conducted in the Samastipur district of Bihar, focusing on women’s participation in home and farm activities within the social, cultural, and economic contexts of the area. Participation varies from reason to reason and family to family, depending on caste, class, and socio-economic status. The contributions of women in the production of vegetables and fruits, poultry, livestock, fish cultivation, tree planting, crop processing, beekeeping, and mushroom cultivation make a significant impact on the total family income. A test was developed to measure the knowledge of respondents about beekeeping, mushroom cultivation, tomato sauce making, guava jelly making, and lemon squash making, assessed using a schedule developed for the study. The extent of adoption of recommended scientific practices for beekeeping, mushroom cultivation, dairy farming, and the preparation of tomato sauce, guava jelly, and lemon squash was measured in terms of correct and incorrect adoption. The degree of adoption and age, as well as the degree of knowledge and caste, marital status, family type, occupation, yearly income, landholding, house type, membership in organisations, and media exposure, were found to be significantly correlated.