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Research Note

Barriers Hindering Tribal Women’s Participation in Agriculture in Angul District, Odisha

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Suchismita Sahoo — P.G. Scholar
Sneha Singh — Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Rashtriya Kisan Post Graduate College, Shamli-247776, Uttar Pradesh, India
Shardinjay Singh — Ph.D. Scholars
Agantika Gupta — Ph.D. Scholar, Department of Agricultural Extension, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Modipuram, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India
Kumar Sonu — Ph.D. Scholars
R K Doharey — Professor, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya-224229, Uttar Pradesh, India
Abhinav Singh — Subject Matter Specialist, Agriculture Extension, KVK Sant Kabir Nagar-272162, Uttar Pradesh, India
Omkar Singh — Subject Matter Specialist, Plant Protection, ICAR-KVK, P.G College Ghazipur-233001, Uttar Pradesh, India
Sandeep Chauhan — Ph.D. Scholars
Published 29 Sep 2026 Vol. 62 No. 4 (2026), pp. 312-316 ● Open access
❝ How to cite 🔗 https://doi.org/10.48165/IJEE.2026.624RN10
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Abstract

Tribal women contributed extensively to agricultural labour in India’s tribal belts, yet their participation remained constrained by social, economic, technological, environmental, and institutional barriers that were rarely studied systematically at the district level. The present study was conducted in Angul district of Odisha during 2024- 25 to identify and rank the constraints faced by tribal women in agricultural participation. Four blocks (Chhendipada, Athamalik, Pallahada and Kaniha) were purposively selected, and sixteen villages were chosen at random, from which 160 tribal women respondents were drawn. Data were collected through a pre-tested structured interview schedule covering ten constraints under five broad dimensions and were analysed using the Garrett Ranking Technique. The results showed that lack of awareness about agriculture’s importance (mean score 87.76) ranked as the most severe constraint, followed by inadequate training on modern farming practices and market trends (83.32). Economic and market constraints, patriarchal social structures, and unclear government policies followed in order of severity, while environmental and infrastructural constraints were rated comparatively less severe. The findings offered extension functionaries and policymakers an evidence-based basis for designing targeted interventions for tribal women in agriculture.

KeywordsAgricultural participationGarrett rankingGenderKnowledge and awarenessTribal women

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