Women Entrepreneurship: Problems Faced by Rural Women Entrepreneurs in Sindh Province of Pakistan

Abstract

Rural women consist of more than one quarter of the total world population and world over they are an essential and fundamental force in the development processes that are the main factors to socio economic progress. There have been a number of serious obstacles; some of them are social, managerial, production and marketing constraints and difficulties arises both from within and outside differ from enterprise to enterprise.This study was carried out in Sindh province of Pakistan. For the study purpose 3 districts were selected out of the existing 28 districts, from each district five villages were selected through a multistage sampling techniques. Twenty five women entrepreneurs were selected from each village. Thus making a sample of 375 women was randomly selected for the study. A well structured interview schedule was used to collect information from the women entrepreneurs on their personal and socio-economic characteristics and problem faced by them in entrepreneurship at field level. Statistical techniques like mean scores and percentages were used to analyze the data. Majority of 37.53% of the respondents were within 36-45 years of age. Majority of respondents were single (36%) among these were married (25%) and those who were divorced (17%), while 16% were Widow. 47% women’s entrepreneurs had 6-10 family members, while 40.84% were 1-5 household size. Majority of the respondents had primary education (44%), while only 22.51% had no formal education. Forty four percent (44.16%) of the respondents had >5 years of entrepreneur experience, 40.83% had 6-10 years. Majority (28%) expressed that lack of family cooperation is causing a problem. However 25.33% of respondents reported lack of reorganization of women’s work in the society as a social problem. Almost 40% of the respondents faced lack of credit facilities, while 34.67% of the respondents perceived that complex loaning procedure is a major problem to manage the business. About 32% respondents perceived that inaccessibility of place of work, while 28% respondents perceived as a lack of marketing facility was a major problem. It was recommended that the need for providing family cooperation and women’s involved in entrepreneurs may be recognized in all stage to promote entrepreneurship at field level. Adequate training must be given to the women entrepreneurship at field level and guidance at all stages can be effective ways to cope the problems of women entrepreneurs that hinders in entrepreneurship The major problems of micro credit, complex loan procedure, lack of marketing, transport facilities needs to be improved for the successful enterprise development in the province and an appropriate marketing facilities and micro credits through public private organizations may be extended to the rural women for their successful business