چكيده لاتين
This research was conducted with the aim of investigating the employment of rural women in the agricultural sector and analyzing the obstacles, opportunities, and factors affecting their participation in Faridan County. In terms of purpose, this study is applied research, and regarding method, it is descriptive-analytical. The required data were collected through library studies and field research (researcher-made questionnaire). The statistical population consisted of 12,271 rural women of working age residing in 28 villages of the county. Using the Cochran formula, a sample of 372 individuals was selected through random sampling.
The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software. In the descriptive statistics section, demographic characteristics and the employment status of women were examined. In the inferential statistics section, tests such as correlation, regression analysis, and independent t-test were used to test the hypotheses.
The findings of the research indicated:
- Approximately 40% of the agricultural workforce in the region consists of women, who are primarily engaged in activities such as potato, wheat, and alfalfa cultivation, traditional animal husbandry, and related handicrafts.
- 70% of women work informally and without contracts, and only 15% own agricultural land.
- 85% of female farmers lack insurance coverage, and their estimated average monthly income is between 3 to 5 million Tomans.
- There is a significant relationship between the level of education, access to financial and technological resources, cultural beliefs, and the level of womenʹs economic participation.
- Domestic responsibilities and the lack of adequate mechanization were identified as the most important barriers reducing womenʹs productivity and health. The results of statistical analyses confirmed the research hypotheses and showed that improving access to resources, training in modern skills, developing womenʹs cooperatives, and reforming gender attitudes could enhance womenʹs share in the regionʹs agricultural economy. Finally, solutions such as creating special credit funds for women, expanding contract farming, digital and extension education, and allocating quotas in support programs were proposed.
This research emphasizes the pivotal and often overlooked role of rural womenʹs employment in the agricultural sector, food security, household economy, and sustainable agricultural development, and highlights the necessity of revising existing policies with a gender-sensitive approach.
