The Economic Role of Women in Dryland Rice-Based Livelihoods (A Case Study of Mekarjaya Village, Ciemas District, Sukabumi Regency)

Abstract

This study aims to explore the role of women in agricultural labor, their involvement in household decision-making, and their contribution to household income. It also intend to identify the factors that affect women's working time and income from both farm and non-farm activities. The study employs several analytical methods, including gender role analysis (using the Harvard framework and Likert scale), income contribution analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis through the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) method. The findings reveal that women are predominantly involved in planting, weeding, harvesting, and post-harvest tasks. Among household decisions, women are primarily responsible for managing farm finances. In households where women engage only in field or garden-based agricultural work, their annual income contribution is approximately IDR 2,394,098. In contrast, households where women work in both fields/gardens and rice paddies see a slightly lower contribution of around IDR 1,967,954 per year. Key factors affecting women’s time spent on farm activities include time allocated to off-farm work, the size of agricultural land, and the number of children under five years old. Women's off-farm income is significantly influenced by the time they spend on off-farm activities, while their on-farm income is determined by the size of the land and the time they dedicate to farm work.

Keywords: Harvard analysis; working time; income contribution; decision-making