IDENTIFICATION OF FACTORS HAMPERING WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN AGRICULTURAL DECISION MAKING AND EXTENSION WORK IN DISTRICT OKARA, PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

The study was designed to identify rural women’s constraints in decision making regarding agricultural activities and mainly how the rural women can be empowered for sustainable agricultural development in the district Okara, Punjab, Pakistan. A multistage sampling technique was used to collect the data from 480 respondents from three Tehsils of the district. The results showed that a vast majority of women were illiterate, having monthly family income less than Rs. 100,000, and having small land farms. A large proportion of the respondents reported that they had to face problems and constraints in accessing agricultural extension services in the context of social, economic, cultural, and political issues. However, by addressing these constraints effectively the situation of women empowerment can be improved in rural areas.