Effect of Individual and Family Characteristics of Rural Women on Their Motivation in Participation in Agricultural Activities

Participation of the Iranian rural women in economic activities, especially in agriculture, is an indisputable fact. This presence in the economic areas reduces production costs and increases household income. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of individual and family characteristics of rural women on their motivation in participating in agricultural activities. Statistical population includes all rural women who reside in Asara (Karaj) and are older than 15 years old (N=2810). A sample of 110 rural women was selected by using proportional random sampling method. The research results indicate that there is positive and significant relationship between motivation of participating in agricultural activities and household size, number of children and level of using agricultural technology while there is negative and significant relationship between the dependent variable and level of literacy and household income. In addition, married womenhad stronger motivation for participating in agricultural activities than the single one. The multiple regression analysis showed that using information resources, using agricultural technology and level of literacy explain 25.6 percent of variations in level of motivation of rural women participation in agricultural activities.