The Role of Microfinance Institutions in Women's Empowerment Regarding Agriculture Development: A Case Study of Tehsil Jampur, District Rajanpur

Abstract

Since its inception, Pakistan has encountered upheaval and deprivation in all facets of life, hindering its progress to align with the global community. For over seven decades, Pakistan has made little progress due to the unfair division of resources and gender discrimination. The burden of this scantiness was put intensely on the women folk. Women play a vital role in domestic functions. Their role should be enhanced by empowering them financially. Microfinance has been found as a main antidote to empower women to eradicate poverty and to track sustainable development goals.  The primary aims of the research are (i) to examine the impact of microfinance on women’s participation in different agriculture models; (ii) to assess the influence of microfinance on the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices and (iii) to analyze the role of microfinance in enhancing women's decision-making power in agricultural activities. For this purpose, a sample of 150 women who had taken credit from leading microfinance institutions was selected through a double-stage sampling technique. At the first stage, one Tehsil was selected in which microfinance institutions centers randomly. At the second stage, 150 women targeted from 5 different microfinance institutions were selected through a convenient sampling technique. Results indicated a strong consensus that more than sixty-p (60.66%) of the key informant were agreed and strongly agreed that microfinance empowers their social empowerment. Results indicated a strong consensus that (79.33%) of the key informants agreed and strongly agreed that microfinance institutes provide them loans for investing in agriculture. Results indicated a strong consensus that more than fifty-three p (53.33%) of the key informants were disagreed and strongly disagreed that microfinance promotes leadership through decision-making. Results indicated a strong consensus that more than fifty-four p (54.66%) of the key informants were disagreed and strongly disagreed that microfinance promotes entrepreneurship in women by providing them access to agriculture loans. Microfinance institutions were associated with economic stability. Agricultural training for women was associated with access to agriculture loans. Access to financial resources was associated with beneficial business for rural women.