Problems Faced by Rural Women in Participating Homestead Waste Management towards Achieving IPNS

The main purpose of this study was to find out the problems of participation in homestead waste management activities by the rural women towards achieving IPNS (Integrated Plant Nutrient System). The study was conducted with the 95 female group members of Soil Fertility and Fertilizer Management Project from the four Blocks of Gouripur Upazila under Mymensingh district. A pre-designed pre-tested interview schedule was used to collect data on women’s personal characteristics and problems faced by rural women in waste management during March and April, 2007. Problem confrontation was also cross-checked through making Scored Causal Diagrams (SCDs). Two Focus Group Discussions were conducted to identify the wastes generated in the farming households. Extent of use of homestead wastes was identified through Resource Flow Diagrams. Mainly seven types of wastes were identified through discussion with women. These were cow dung, cattle-shed waste, poultry bird feces, crop harvest residues, kitchen waste, ash and rice husk. The wastes were mostly used as farmyard manure and diverted to field accordingly. About three-fourths (60%) of the rural women faced high problem and only 15% faced low problems in participating the waste management activities. While, SCDs explored that the main ‘root’ causes to ‘low participation in homestead waste management activities’ identified were lack of training on waste management, social/religious barrier, lack of grazing land and fodder/feed of the cattle. Rural women’s age showed significant positive relationship, and their education, family cooperation and exposure to agricultural information showed significant negative relationship with their confronted problems of participation in homestead waste management.