The Interplay Between Rural Women’s Autonomy, Decision-Making Power, and Technology Adoption: A Theoretical Enrichment

The present study examined the level of knowledge of rural women regarding selected farm technologies in Kurukshetra and Mahendragarh districts of Haryana. Knowledge was assessed under three dimensions: basic, technical, and working knowledge. The findings revealed that a majority of rural women possessed high basic knowledge about farm technologies such as grain storage bins, chaff cutters, spray machines, and improved bullock carts. However, comparatively lower levels of technical and working knowledge were observed, particularly in areas related to brands, parts, functions, purchase locations, preventive maintenance, and operational efficiency. District-wise comparison indicated that women from Kurukshetra demonstrated relatively higher knowledge levels across all dimensions than those from Mahendragarh. Overall, 45.27 percent of respondents exhibited high knowledge, 40.55 percent had medium knowledge, and 14.16 percent had low knowledge regarding farm technologies. The findings highlight the need for capacity-building programs focusing on technical and operational competencies to enhance effective utilization of farm technologies among rural women.