FARM RESOURCE CONTROL & DECISION-MAKING: PATTERNS IN MOHAMMADABAD TEHSIL, GHAZIPUR (UP)

This study explores how women in Mohammadabad Tehsil of Ghazipur district, Uttar Pradesh, participate in farm resource management and decision-making. Based on a survey of 100 households across four villages (Hainsi, Fatehpur, Lauwadih, Nagwa Nawapura) conducted between February and July 2025, the research develops a Decision-Making Index (DMI) covering six domains of agricultural management: input procurement, cropping patterns, financial management, labor allocation, marketing, and technology adoption. Findings show that women’s average DMI score was 28.5, indicating limited but varied influence in farming decisions. Education, joint land ownership, and Self-Help Group (SHG) membership emerged as the strongest factors associated with higher decision-making power. Women with greater educational attainment, their names on land titles, or SHG participation were significantly more active in farm-related decisions. The results highlight the structural, cultural, and institutional barriers that restrict women’s agency, but also point to clear opportunities. Strengthening land rights, expanding gender responsive extension services, investing in education and adult literacy, and supporting SHGs could substantially enhance women’s role in agriculture. By addressing these constraints, policies can improve not only women’s empowerment but also household welfare, farm productivity, and rural development more broadly.