The World Agricultural Systems

Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction and methodology. 2. Profile of Koraput district. 3. Tribal economy and role of women. 4.Rgulation of weekly markets and trading practices of traders. 5. Profile of women traders and their role in retail trade. 6. Conclusions and suggestions. Annexures. Bibliography.

The book highlights the important features of tribal economy and the role of women therein. It also provides a brief focus on the weekly market mechanism in a tribal economy and the trading practices of traders in these markets. In tribal areas, because of liberal attitude towards women, one will find women traders in large numbers in the markets of these areas. There are certain trades like vegetables, pulses and country liquor which are virtually dominated by women traders. These traders, although carryon petty retail business, play an important role in the tribal economy.

The book makes an in-depth study of the role of women entrepreneurs in retail trade sector in a tribal economy with particular reference to a tribal dominated district of Odisha. The underlying forces/factors motivating women to enter into trading activities, the different possible sources of finance available to them to establish and maintain their enterprises, their role in supplementing to their family incomes, the wide varieties of problems faced by them and the scope for their growth in retail trade have been discussed at length. The book provides a lucid and systematic presentation of the whole work, which will make the reading interesting and meaningful.