EMPOWERING WOMEN: NUDGING AS AN INFLUENCE TO ENHANCE THE EFFICIENCY OF WOMEN DAIRY WORKERS

Abstract

For the socio-economic growth of the nation, particularly in developing nations, women play a significant role in livestock-rearing operations. They spend five to six hours daily in dairy and animal husbandry activities in addition to their daily household responsibilities. Due to the maledominated society, they do not get proper recognition and respect for their hard work at home and in society. Nudging is a term that is used in behavioral economics as a way to move ahead with gender equality. It is any small feature in the environment that attracts our attention and alters our behavior. The main objective of the current study was to use nudging as an influence to attract dairy women workers by training them with modern husbandry practices to increase the productivity of livestock. This would in return empower them in society due to the improvement of their role in the family. This study was conducted in two districts of Punjab province. A multistage sampling technique was used to select a sample of three hundred and twenty female farmers who were engaged in informal value chains; the collected data were processed using suitable statistical techniques and pertinent analysis was carried out using appropriate statistical models. The Schedule-structured interview was used as a tool for data collection. To enhance the income of local dairy farm women, training was imparted with the use of a nudging approach. The
findings of the study showed that these activities significantly increased the income of rural women. Increasing the engagement of females in the rearing of dairy animals is an important means to enhance gender equity and will contribute to gender equality in society.