Role of female farmers in activities and decision making of rubber farming and their contribution to family income

English. The objective of the research was to study the characteristics of farmers' wives, to analyze the role of women in decision making process in the management of rubber farm and home garden, to evaluate the main role of the woman in the daily activities and their contribution in supporting the family income. The field survey was conducted in four locations, i.e. new comers villages (Batumarta and Mulia Agung) and local indigenous villages (Kertajaya and Air Gilas), namely 45, 10, 15 and 8 women. The result showed that the main occupation of the majority of women is housewife. The percentage of woman who tapped rubber was about 20-80 percent of the total respondents. However, in general (50-80 percent of respondents), the woman participated in field activities, particularly in planting and cultivating intercrops. Woman had a significant contribution, particularly in decision making relating to planting and cultivating of intercrops. While men were dominant in decision making concerning funds for the purchase of agricultural inputs and the marketing of product. Effort were made to grow intercrops as long as possible, because during the intercropping period the women would intensively maintain their plantation. The management of home garden was entirely done by the wives. The highest time allocated for productive activities was found in Mulia Agung, where the wives were active in tapping and field activities. The contribution towards income was around 15,3-36 percent of the total income. The highest percentage of the contribution by women was found in Mulia Agung, where almost all farmers' wives participated in tapping and working in the fields. The available time of the women per day was ranged from 15.3-16.3 hours. After deducting the women's time for tapping, field works and activities outside farming, apparently the time remaining for domestic activities was around 61-84 percent. The contribution of the women in supporting the family income was 15.3-36 percent of the total income.

Indonesian. Suatu penelitian dilakukan untuk melihat partisipasi wanita dalam kegiatan usahatani karet dan keterlibatan dalam pengambilan keputusan usahatani, serta menganalisis kontribusinya dalam menunjang pendapatan keluarga. Penelitian dilaksanakan dengan metoda survey di empat lokasi, yaitu desa pendatang (Batumarta dan Mulia Agung) dan desa pribumi/lokal (Air Gilas dan Kertajaya) dengan jumlah responden isteri petani masing-masing 46, 10, 15 dan 8 orang. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pekerjaan utama sebagian besar isteri petani hanya sebagai ibu rumah tangga. Persentase wanita yang menyadap karet berkisar 20-80 persen dari total responden. Namun wanita umumnya (50-80 persen) ikut berpartisipasi pada kegiatan di ladang terutama dalam penanaman dan pemeliharaan tanaman sela. Wanita mempunyai kontribusi yang cukup besar dalam pengambilan keputusan yang berkaitan dengan penanaman dan pemeliharaan tanaman sela, sedangkan pria lebih dominan dalam pengambilan keputusan yang berkaitan dengan uang, baik pembelian sarana produksi maupun pemasaran hasil. Dalam pengambilan keputusan yang berkaitan dengan penanaman karet baru, biasanya pria dan wanita berperan sama. Tanaman sela harus diusahakan selama mungkin, karena dengan adanya tanaman sela, para wanita akan memelihara tanaman kebunnya secara intensif. Pengelolaan pekarangan seluruhnya dikelola oleh para isteri. Curahan waktu tertinggi untuk kegiatan produktif dijumpai di Mulia Agung dimana para ibu aktif dalam kegiatan menyadap dan berladang. Kontribusi terhadap pendapatan berkisar 15,3-36 persen dari total pendapatan. Kontribusi pendapatan yang tertinggi terlihat di Mulia Agung dimana hampir semua isteri petani berpartisipasi dalam kegiatan menyadap dan berladang. Ketersediaan waktu wanita per hari berkisar 15,3-16,3 jam. Setelah diperhitungkan kegiatan untuk menyadap, di ladang dan luar usaha tani, waktu yang tersisa untuk kegiatan rumah tangga adalah sekitar 61-84 persen. Kontribusi wanita dalam menunjang pendapatan keluarga berkisar 15,3-36,0 persen