An Analysis of Gender-based Participation in Major Economic Activities: A Case Study of Selected Villages of District Mansehra

The study was conducted in district Mansehra during2007 to investigate the gender-based participation in major economic activities. Primary data was obtained through questionnaire using a sample of size one hundred and sixty allocating to eleven villages of the research area on the basis of systematic random sampling technique. Agricultural and forest activities were mainly performed by men. In Hilkot, Syedabad and Sumbal men were the dominant in performing all the agriculture activities. In Kundi, females played comparatively dominant role in gross cutting which was 50% as against 45% for males. In Boijri, females’ contribution was higher than males in weeding, fodder collection, gross cutting and fertilization which were 38.1%, 47.6%, 47.6% and 42.9% respectively. In Sathangali females were dominant in weeding and fodder collection with share of 57% and 61% respectively. In Gulderi, females’ contribution was high i.e 60% for harvesting and in Naka it was55% for fodder collection. Females’ contribution was dominant on average in Kotni/Dehri/Kund for weeding and, fodder collection i.e. 57% and 51% respectively. Men were found dominant in decision-making. In forest activities, women contribution was higher in collection of medicinal plants only i.e. 47% as against 34% for males. Female contribution in grazing (85%) and milking (80%)was highest as compared to men in the major livestock activities. Women should be given opportunities and liberty to play their role in economic activities.