Author(s): B. BHATTACHARYA AND M. GHOSH

Abstract: In Asia most of the countries are in developing stage where a high proportion of women are employed in agriculture. The official statistics do not always reveal fully the actual status and role of women in agriculture but such data provides adequate insight for economic analysis and policy decision in agricultural planning, food security allevation of rural poverty, rural development and agrian reforms. The present paper explores the participation trend of female workforce in agriculture for five leading SAARC nations i.e. Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The work participation rate (WPR) of female agricultural population is analyzed. A hierarchical clustering of economically active female agricultural population (EAFAP) of the SAARC nations is considered. Also an analysis has been done to study the influence of increased female literacy rate on female agricultural population. Finally an effort has been made to project the future participation in EAFAP.

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