Abstract:
Majority of rural faml households of Sri Lanka is poor. The salient feature of such farm
households is having limited resources; land and labour. It is widely believed that women
can make a significant contribution to improve household welfare through some off-farm
work. Therefore, the foremost objectives of this study were to identify women's
contribution to household welfare through their off-farm work and to recognise
determinants of accessibility to off-faml labour market. To meet these objectives, the
researcher collected data and relevant information from a sample of households, which
was chosen from Angunakolapelessa Divisional Secretariat Division of Hambantoata
District, Sri Lanka. An Econometric model applied in analysing data, as the main tool.
The major findings of the study are summarised as follows: women are much more
concern about their family welfare than men, and therefore, they have immensely
motivated to do some off-farm work if it is possible to find off- farm work. Women can
make a significant contribution to improve the household welfare level through off-farm
work if they are able to find off- farm work. However, the choice of women's off-farm
work is strongly determined by their individual health status and household-specific
characteristics such as, number of young children they have and age structure of children,
health status of husband and local labour market characteristics.
