Interesting Facts About Parrots

Parrots have long captured the interest and hearts of people. Whether as pets or viewed in the wild, these intelligent birds attract peoples attention. Their diversity and adaptability in some ways mimics humans. Knowing parrot facts can give people a new and deeper appreciation of these birds.

More than 350 types of birds classify as parrots. They range in size from the small budgerigar to the large macaw. Their colors vary, some have little coloring, like the African grey. Others have very bright feathers in red, green, yellow and blue. All parrots categorize as zygodactyls with four toes--two facing backward and two forward--on each of their feet. They also all have curved beaks, come from warmer areas of the world and eat a similar diet of fruit, seeds, nuts, plant material and insects.

Parrots have multiple sacks in their lungs. They have high susceptibility to many of the fumes found in the average home. Fumes from Teflon-coated cookware can poison a parrot in minutes. Other possible dangers include cleaners, nail polish and remover, cigarette smoke and air fresheners.

Every parrot has an individual personality and behaviors. While some generalizations may apply, such as the temperament of a type of parrot, variations always occur. Parrots, like many animals, do what results in a positive outcome. For example, if squawking causes a person to run into the room to soothe and calm the bird, they will continue to perform that behavior. Fortunately, this makes parrots very trainable when people reward the behaviors they want.

One of the reasons parrots can make such good companions for people is due to their flock mentality. The parrot sees the people it lives with as its flock. They try to communicate with the flock, which can come out as talking and mimicking humans. Many types of parrots live long lives--up to 100 years old in captivity--forming deep bonds with their people. Even though people have kept parrots as pets and companions for thousands of years, they are not domesticated.

In warm climates, escaped or freed pet parrots have established wild colonies. Places such as Arizona and Florida have wild populations of lovebirds and Quaker parakeets. On the reverse side of these parrot facts, parrots in their natural habitats have several threats. People catch wild babies to sell or trade. Habitat destruction reduces the population of parrots. Parrots top the list of most endangered birds with more than half of parrot types being threatened because of the trade in wild birds, according to the World Parrot Trust.

0

Interesting Facts About Parrots

Parrots have long captured the interest and hearts of people. Whether as pets or viewed in the wild, these intelligent birds attract peoples attention. Their diversity and adaptability in some ways mimics humans. Knowing parrot facts can give people a new and deeper appreciation of these birds.

More than 350 types of birds classify as parrots. They range in size from the small budgerigar to the large macaw. Their colors vary, some have little coloring, like the African grey. Others have very bright feathers in red, green, yellow and blue. All parrots categorize as zygodactyls with four toes--two facing backward and two forward--on each of their feet. They also all have curved beaks, come from warmer areas of the world and eat a similar diet of fruit, seeds, nuts, plant material and insects.

Parrots have multiple sacks in their lungs. They have high susceptibility to many of the fumes found in the average home. Fumes from Teflon-coated cookware can poison a parrot in minutes. Other possible dangers include cleaners, nail polish and remover, cigarette smoke and air fresheners.

Every parrot has an individual personality and behaviors. While some generalizations may apply, such as the temperament of a type of parrot, variations always occur. Parrots, like many animals, do what results in a positive outcome. For example, if squawking causes a person to run into the room to soothe and calm the bird, they will continue to perform that behavior. Fortunately, this makes parrots very trainable when people reward the behaviors they want.

One of the reasons parrots can make such good companions for people is due to their flock mentality. The parrot sees the people it lives with as its flock. They try to communicate with the flock, which can come out as talking and mimicking humans. Many types of parrots live long lives--up to 100 years old in captivity--forming deep bonds with their people. Even though people have kept parrots as pets and companions for thousands of years, they are not domesticated.

In warm climates, escaped or freed pet parrots have established wild colonies. Places such as Arizona and Florida have wild populations of lovebirds and Quaker parakeets. On the reverse side of these parrot facts, parrots in their natural habitats have several threats. People catch wild babies to sell or trade. Habitat destruction reduces the population of parrots. Parrots top the list of most endangered birds with more than half of parrot types being threatened because of the trade in wild birds, according to the World Parrot Trust.

0

Interesting Facts About Parrots

Parrots have long captured the interest and hearts of people. Whether as pets or viewed in the wild, these intelligent birds attract peoples attention. Their diversity and adaptability in some ways mimics humans. Knowing parrot facts can give people a new and deeper appreciation of these birds.

More than 350 types of birds classify as parrots. They range in size from the small budgerigar to the large macaw. Their colors vary, some have little coloring, like the African grey. Others have very bright feathers in red, green, yellow and blue. All parrots categorize as zygodactyls with four toes--two facing backward and two forward--on each of their feet. They also all have curved beaks, come from warmer areas of the world and eat a similar diet of fruit, seeds, nuts, plant material and insects.

Parrots have multiple sacks in their lungs. They have high susceptibility to many of the fumes found in the average home. Fumes from Teflon-coated cookware can poison a parrot in minutes. Other possible dangers include cleaners, nail polish and remover, cigarette smoke and air fresheners.

Every parrot has an individual personality and behaviors. While some generalizations may apply, such as the temperament of a type of parrot, variations always occur. Parrots, like many animals, do what results in a positive outcome. For example, if squawking causes a person to run into the room to soothe and calm the bird, they will continue to perform that behavior. Fortunately, this makes parrots very trainable when people reward the behaviors they want.

One of the reasons parrots can make such good companions for people is due to their flock mentality. The parrot sees the people it lives with as its flock. They try to communicate with the flock, which can come out as talking and mimicking humans. Many types of parrots live long lives--up to 100 years old in captivity--forming deep bonds with their people. Even though people have kept parrots as pets and companions for thousands of years, they are not domesticated.

In warm climates, escaped or freed pet parrots have established wild colonies. Places such as Arizona and Florida have wild populations of lovebirds and Quaker parakeets. On the reverse side of these parrot facts, parrots in their natural habitats have several threats. People catch wild babies to sell or trade. Habitat destruction reduces the population of parrots. Parrots top the list of most endangered birds with more than half of parrot types being threatened because of the trade in wild birds, according to the World Parrot Trust.

0

Interesting Facts About Parrots

Parrots have long captured the interest and hearts of people. Whether as pets or viewed in the wild, these intelligent birds attract peoples attention. Their diversity and adaptability in some ways mimics humans. Knowing parrot facts can give people a new and deeper appreciation of these birds.

More than 350 types of birds classify as parrots. They range in size from the small budgerigar to the large macaw. Their colors vary, some have little coloring, like the African grey. Others have very bright feathers in red, green, yellow and blue. All parrots categorize as zygodactyls with four toes--two facing backward and two forward--on each of their feet. They also all have curved beaks, come from warmer areas of the world and eat a similar diet of fruit, seeds, nuts, plant material and insects.

Parrots have multiple sacks in their lungs. They have high susceptibility to many of the fumes found in the average home. Fumes from Teflon-coated cookware can poison a parrot in minutes. Other possible dangers include cleaners, nail polish and remover, cigarette smoke and air fresheners.

Every parrot has an individual personality and behaviors. While some generalizations may apply, such as the temperament of a type of parrot, variations always occur. Parrots, like many animals, do what results in a positive outcome. For example, if squawking causes a person to run into the room to soothe and calm the bird, they will continue to perform that behavior. Fortunately, this makes parrots very trainable when people reward the behaviors they want.

One of the reasons parrots can make such good companions for people is due to their flock mentality. The parrot sees the people it lives with as its flock. They try to communicate with the flock, which can come out as talking and mimicking humans. Many types of parrots live long lives--up to 100 years old in captivity--forming deep bonds with their people. Even though people have kept parrots as pets and companions for thousands of years, they are not domesticated.

In warm climates, escaped or freed pet parrots have established wild colonies. Places such as Arizona and Florida have wild populations of lovebirds and Quaker parakeets. On the reverse side of these parrot facts, parrots in their natural habitats have several threats. People catch wild babies to sell or trade. Habitat destruction reduces the population of parrots. Parrots top the list of most endangered birds with more than half of parrot types being threatened because of the trade in wild birds, according to the World Parrot Trust.

0

Interesting Facts About Parrots

Parrots have long captured the interest and hearts of people. Whether as pets or viewed in the wild, these intelligent birds attract peoples attention. Their diversity and adaptability in some ways mimics humans. Knowing parrot facts can give people a new and deeper appreciation of these birds.

More than 350 types of birds classify as parrots. They range in size from the small budgerigar to the large macaw. Their colors vary, some have little coloring, like the African grey. Others have very bright feathers in red, green, yellow and blue. All parrots categorize as zygodactyls with four toes--two facing backward and two forward--on each of their feet. They also all have curved beaks, come from warmer areas of the world and eat a similar diet of fruit, seeds, nuts, plant material and insects.

Parrots have multiple sacks in their lungs. They have high susceptibility to many of the fumes found in the average home. Fumes from Teflon-coated cookware can poison a parrot in minutes. Other possible dangers include cleaners, nail polish and remover, cigarette smoke and air fresheners.

Every parrot has an individual personality and behaviors. While some generalizations may apply, such as the temperament of a type of parrot, variations always occur. Parrots, like many animals, do what results in a positive outcome. For example, if squawking causes a person to run into the room to soothe and calm the bird, they will continue to perform that behavior. Fortunately, this makes parrots very trainable when people reward the behaviors they want.

One of the reasons parrots can make such good companions for people is due to their flock mentality. The parrot sees the people it lives with as its flock. They try to communicate with the flock, which can come out as talking and mimicking humans. Many types of parrots live long lives--up to 100 years old in captivity--forming deep bonds with their people. Even though people have kept parrots as pets and companions for thousands of years, they are not domesticated.

In warm climates, escaped or freed pet parrots have established wild colonies. Places such as Arizona and Florida have wild populations of lovebirds and Quaker parakeets. On the reverse side of these parrot facts, parrots in their natural habitats have several threats. People catch wild babies to sell or trade. Habitat destruction reduces the population of parrots. Parrots top the list of most endangered birds with more than half of parrot types being threatened because of the trade in wild birds, according to the World Parrot Trust.

0

Women Entrepreneurship in Asian Developing Countries

INTRODUCTION

In Asian developing countries, entrepreneurship development is currently an important issue related to economic development in the countries. It is publicly believed that the lack of entrepreneurship together with limited capital, skilled workers and technology have been the main important causes of relatively economic backwardness in most of these countries. Realizing this, training in entrepreneurship has been included as an important part of government programs to support the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Asian developing countries. Women entrepreneurship development in Asian developing countries is currently very important since it is part of ongoing national efforts to alleviate poverty in developing countries in relation to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Greater opportunities for women to participate in economic activities either as well-paid employyees or as successful entrepreneurs certainly will help much in poverty reduction. Since entrepreneurship development is usually associated with SME development, this paper focuses on women entrepreneurs in SMEs.

METHODOLOGY

This paper is based on a review of key literature and a descriptive analysis of secondary data, from government sources as well as from International Labour Organization (ILO), or from individual case studies, on women entrepreneurs in Asian developing countries. Since not all countries in the region have enough data and literature, this study only covers all member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China and some countries in the South Asia including India and Pakistan

Definitions and main characteristics of SMES

The definition and concept of SMEs vary between countries in the region. There is no common agreement on what distinguishes a microenterprise (MIE) from a small enterprise (SE), or a SE from a medium enterprise (ME), and a ME from a large enterprise (LE). In general, however, a MIE employs less than five (5) full time equivalent employees, although many enterprises of this category do not hire workers, often called self-employment enterprises; sometimes they use family members as helpers or unpaid workers. A SME can range from less than 100 workers in, for instance, Indonesia, to as much as 3000 laborers in China. In Indonesia, Les are those with 100 workers or more, while in Vietnam, they are units with 300 or more full time employees. Comparison between countries becomes more difficult since in some countries, definition of SME based on number of employees, value of fixed or productive assets (excluding land and building) varies, or annual revenues also vary between sect ors, e.g. Thailand, India and China, or even among departments or agencies, e.g. Indonesia and Pakistan.

Definitions of SME in some Asian developing countries.

Name of the Country

Employees

Fixed/Productive Assets

MIE

SE

ME

MIE

SE

ME

Indonesia

4

5-19

20-99

Rp>50 m

>Rp50m-Rp500m

>Rp500m-Rp10b

Malaysia

5

5-50

51-150

-

-

-

Philippines

9

19-99

100-199

P 3m

>P3m- P15m

>P15m-P100m

Thailand

4

5-<50

50-200

<THB 50 m

<THB 50 m

THB 50m-THB 200 m

Vietnam

<10

10-49

50-299

-

-

-

Cambodia

<11

11-50

51-100

50,000 US$

50,000 US$-

250,000US$

250,000US$-500,000US$

Lao PDR

1-4

5-19

20-99

<70 m. kip

<250 m. kip

<1200 m. kip

China

0-5

<300

300-3000

< 40 m. RMB

40 m - 400 m. RMB

India

-

-

-

2,5 m. INR

2.5 m - 50m. INR

50m 100m INR

Pakistan

9

10-35

36-99

< 2 m PR

2-20 m PR

21-40 PR

Bangladesh

50

50

51-200

15 m Tk

15 m Tk

15 m 100 m Tk

Sri Lanka

-

-

-

< m.SR

1m - < 20m SR

20 - < 50 m SR

Nepal

-

-

-

200.000 NR

> 200.000 30 m. NR

> 30 m 100 m NR

Besides using number of employees, annual revenues, or value of invested capital as criterion to define MIEs, SEs and MEs, in fact, MIEs can be obviously distinguished from SEs or MEs by looking at their different characteristics in many business aspects, such as market orientation, social-economic profiles of owners, nature of employment, organization and management system, degree of mechanization (nature of production process), sources of raw materials and capital, location, external relationships, and degree of involvement of women as entrepreneurs.

Main characteristics of MIEs, SEs, and MEs in Asian developing countries

Aspect

MIEs

SEs

MEs

1.Formality

Operate in informal sector, unregistered & seldom pays taxes

Some operate in formal

Sector, some unregistered & some pay taxes

All operate in formal sector, all registered & all pay taxes

2.Organization

and

management

Run by the owner, no division of internal labor, no formal management & no formal accounting system (bookkeeping)

Run by the owner, no division of labor, no formal management, and no formal accounting system

(bookkeeping)

Many hire professional

managers, have division of labor, formal organizational structure & formal account-ting system (bookkeeping)

3.Nature of

employment

Majority use unpaid family

members

Some hire wage laborers

All hire wage laborers & some have formal recruitment system

4.Nature of

production

process

Degree of mechanization

very low/mostly manual & level of technology very low

Some use up-to-date

machines

Many have high degree of

mechanization/have access to modern technology

5.Market orientation

Majority sell to local market

and for low-income consumers

Many sell to domestic

market and export & many serve also middle to high-income group

All sell to domestic market and many also export, all serve middle and high income consumers

6.Social and

economic

profiles

of owners

Low or uneducated, from poor households & main motivation: survival

Some have good education and from non-poor households & many have business/profit motivation

Majority have good education

Many are from wealthy families & main motivation: profit

7.Sources of raw

materials and

capital

Majority use local raw materials and use own money

Some import raw materials

& some have access to formal credits

Many use imported raw

Materials & majority have access to formal credits

8.External

relationships

Majority have no access

to government programs

and not business linkages

with LEs

Many have good relations

with government and have

business linkages (e.g.

subcontracting) with LEs

(including MNCs/FDI).

Majority have good access to government programs & many have business linkages with LEs (including MNCs/FDI)

9.Women

entrepreneurs

Ratio of female to male as

entrepreneurs is high

Ratio of female to male as

entrepreneurs is high

Ratio of female to male as

entrepreneurs is low

Recent development of SMEs

Asian developing countries have touted SMEs as the engine of economic growth and development, the backbone of national economies, the highest employment-generators, and a potential tool of poverty alleviation by creating self-employment avenues. In Southeast Asian countries alone (that is Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Myanmar), notwithstanding various definitional issues and data problems, by combining all sources which are available (Tambunan, 2008; Wattanapruttipaisan, 2003; Lim, 2008) there is an estimated total of around 52 million SMEs, with Indonesia as the largest contributor According to a report from the Secretary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (ASEAN Development Blueprint for SMEs 2004-2014), these enterprises employ about 75-90% of the domestic workforce, especially adult persons and women (Lim, 2008). These enterprises play strategic roles in private sector de velopment, especially in the aftermath of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. In some member countries, as their economies modernize or industrialize, SME provide the much-needed inter-firm linkages required to support LEs to ensure that they remain competitive in the world markets. In this region as well as in East Asia (e.g. China and South Korea), the total number of SMEs account, on average, for more than 99%.

Number of SMEs in selected Asian developing countries

Name of the Country

Number (000)

% of total enterprises

Indonesia

48,936.80

99.9

Malaysia

519.00

99.2

Philippines

72.70

99.5

Thailand

2,274.53

99.8

Vietnam

98.23

96.8

Cambodia

28.75

99

Lao PDR

26

99.4

China

2,370.26

99.7

India

12.34

90.0-99.7

Pakistan

2,880.00

90.0

Bangladesh

6,000.00

99.0

Singapore

72.00

97.8

Nepal

3,485*

98

SMEs' contribution to total value added or gross domestic product (GDP), on the other hand, are much smaller than their share in total employment. This is indeed a general characteristic of SMEs in developing countries as compared to those in developed countries. In developing countries, SMEs are not yet so important from output contribution perspective due to their low productivity because they lack advanced technologies, sophisticated methods of production and skilled workers. However, in some individual countries, SMEs have GDP shares on average above 50%, such as Cambodia at almost 77% in 2001, Indonesia which reached almost 57% in 2003, and Brunei at 66% in 1995. In China, the ratio is about 60%.

Development of women entrepreneurship

As in other parts of the world, women's entrepreneurship development in Asian developing countries has also a tremendous potential in empowering women and transforming society in the region. Yet in many countries, especially where the level of economic development, reflected by the level of income per capita and the degree of industrialization, is still low, this potential remains largely untapped. Sinhal (2005), for instance, observed that less than 10% of the entrepreneurs in South Asia, comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Categories of Women Entrepreneurs

There are three categories of women entrepreneurs, that is. "chance", "forced" and "created" entrepreneurs.

Categories of women entrepreneurs (by reasons/motivations for starting the business) in Asian developing countries.

Category Main reason/motivation

Chance entrepreneurs -to keep busy

-was hobby/special interest

-family/spouse had business

Forced entrepreneurs -financial/needed the money

-control over time/flexibility

-challenge, try something on one's own

-show others I could do it.

Created or pulled entrepreneurs -to be independent & self satisfaction

-example to children

-employment to others /do something worthwhile

These different categories are based on how their businesses got started, or the main reasons or motivetions behind starting their own businesses. Chance entrepreneurs are those who start a business without any clear goals or plans. Their businesses probably evolved from hobbies to economic enterprises over time. Forced entrepreneurs are those who were compelled by circumstances (e.g., death of a spouse, the family facing financial difficulties) to start a business, their primary motivation, hence, tend to be financial. Created entrepreneurs are those who are "located, motivated, encouraged and developed" through, for instance, entrepreneurship development programs. Although, within the developing countries, the degree varies by country, depending on many factors, including level of economic development, reflected by the level of income per capita, and social, cultural and political factors. Gender equity has many dimensions and it is not easy to measure, due to the lack o f accurate, gender discriminated social indicators in many countries, especially in the developing world.

Two indices often used to measure gender equity are Gender Development Index (GDI) and Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM) constructed by UNDP. GDI is human development index (HDI) adjusted for gender inequality, and HDI measures the average achievements of the country in terms of the extent to which people lead a long and healthy life, are educated and knowledgeable, and enjoy a decent standard of living. GDI measures achievements in the same basic dimensions as HDI but in addition captures inequalities between women and men. Together GDI and GEM attempt to capture the level of development of women and the extent to which women are free from discrimination in building their capabilities and in gaining access to resources and opportunities.

In 2008, the GEI ranks the 2008 situation of 157 countries, based on the most recent statistics available, and is able to determine evolution trends in 133 by comparing their present index with that of five years ago. The following table presents the GEI for selected Asian developing countries.

Gender Equity Index 2008 for selected Asian developing countries

Country/Economy

GEI 2008

Dimensions

Education

Economic activity

Empowerment

Philippines

76

100.0

63.5

65.5

Hong Kong

72

98.5

66.0

51.8

Viet Nam

71

88.6

81.2

44.0

Thailand

70

98.7

71.7

39.7

China

69

95.1

73.3

38.2

Singapore

66

89.6

58.6

48.7

Brunei Darussalam

63

98.7

48.4

41.2

Cambodia

60

76.3

83.5

21.0

Malaysia

58

98.1

46.6

29.1

Korea, Rep.

54

84.2

53.9

23.5

Sri Lanka

53

83.7

42.9

32.1

Indonesia

52

91.7

52.8

12.4

Bangladesh

51

82.3

53.5

17.6

Nepal

44

61.1

57.0

15.3

Pakistan

42

73.2

34.2

17.5

India

40

77.5

36.6

6.3

World Economic Forum (WEF) also produces annual report on global gender gap ranking, based on gender gap index (GGI). The index is based on four critical areas of inequality between men and women:

Economic participation and opportunity: outcomes on salaries, participation levels and access to high-skilled employment. Educational attainment: outcomes on access to basic and higher level education. Political empowerment: outcomes on representation in decision-making structures. Health and survival: outcomes on life expectancy and sex ratio.

The index scores are on a 0 to 1 scale (0.00 = inequality, 1.00 = equality) but can be roughly interpreted as the percentage of the gender gap that has been closed. The index scores can be interpreted as the percentage of the gap between women and men that has been closed.

Another important institution which produces annual report on global employment trends for women is the International Labour Office (ILO). Its 2008 report shows that most regions in the world are making progress in increasing the number of women in decent employment, but that full gender equality in terms of labour market access and conditions of employment has not yet been attained. According to the report, economic empowerment for women has a lot to do with their ability or inability to participate in labour markets and with the conditions of employment that the women who do manage to find work face. The report shows that labour force participation rates in South Asia have traditionally been low due to the low rates for women. Compared to 100 men active on labour markets only 42 women participate by either working or looking for work. The low participation is also reflected in the employment-to-population ratios: in 2007, only 3.4 out of 10 women of working-age actually worked (34.1%), and over the last ten years the female employment-to-population ratio slightly decreased. For the same period, the share of women as own-account workers, increased by 7.9% and as employer declined by 0.2% m.

Distribution of female status in employment in South Asia, 2007 (% change from 1997 in parentheses)

Whereas, according to the report, East Asia, which has been the most successful region in terms of economic growth over the last decade, is also the region with the highest regional labour force participation rate for women, low unemployment rates for both women and men and relatively small gender gaps in sectoral as well as status distribution. In this region, the gender gap in economically active females per 100 males continues to be among the smallest in the world. For every 100 active men, there are 79 women participating in labour markets. Between 1997 and 2007, the shares of women as own-account workers (that is self-employed without employees) and as employer (that is self-employed with employees), respectively, increased by 11.1% and declined by 0.9%.

Distribution of female status in employment in East Asia, 2007 (% change from 1997 in parentheses).

Those changes in shares of women as own-account workers and employers can be seen as the development of women entrepreneurship.

Unfortunately, only few countries have national data and enough literature on women entrepreneurs, including Indonesia and Pakistan. In Indonesia, women entrepreneurs especially in SMEs have also been increasing since the 1980s during the new order era (1966-1998) when the country achieved rapid economic growth leading to rapid increase in per capita income. Data from the National state of the art of women entrepreneurship participation, then the table may suggest that becoming an entrepreneur, especially in larger, modern and more complex Labour Survey confirm this, looking at self-employed category by gender. Although, there are more males than females who are self-employed in businesses with or without employees, or the share of females engaged in businesses is lower than that of male entrepreneurs. According to a number of studies (Manning, 1998; Oey, 1998), the reason for the increasing number of womenowned enterprises are partly due to the increase of women's educati onal level, and to the economic pressure the women faced in their households.

With respect to sectoral distribution within the manufacturing industry, most of the women entrepreneurs are in the food, beverages and tobacco industry, followed by textile, garment and leather, and non-metallic mineral products. In basic metal and fabricated metal products, the proportion of women entrepreneurs is always very small, not more than 1%. This indicates that women entrepreneurs in manufacturing industry tend to do businesses that do not require high skills and expertise. Indeed, in Indonesia, beyond the manufacturing industry, women entrepreneurs are more likely than male to be involved in these sectors, mostly as ownaccount traders having small shops or as owners of small restaurants or hotel (Tambuan, 2006, 2007).

In Pakistan, the rate of women as employers in the past 10 years does not change; while, that of those as selfemployed increased slightly. One important indication from this survey is that women working as entrepreneurs are still lower than that of their male counterparts. As in other countries in the region, women entrepreneurs in Pakistan are mainly found in MIEs (that is self-employed units) (Goheer, 2003; Sinhal 2005; Roomi and Parrot, 2008).

Main barriers faced by women entrepreneurs in the study area

In Asian developing countries, as in any other part of the world, though the entrepreneurial process is the same for men and women, there are however, in practice, many problems faced by women, which are of different dimensions and magnitudes, which prevent them from realizing their full potential as entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship by definition implies being in control of one's life and activeties. It is precisely this independence that societies in the region have denied women. According to Sinhal (2005), the situation is more critical in South Asian countries, as compared to other parts of Asia. The business environment for women, which reflects the complex interplay of different factors (e.g. psychological, social/cultural, religion, economic and educational factors) in the South Asian region ultimately results in the disadvantaged status of women in society.

In Bangladesh, a large number of women's enterprises are operating on an informal basis and they are not identified in the country's economy. These enterprises lack the basic forms and information, marketing opportunities, regulatory and social supports (ADB, 2001b).

In Nepal problems faced by women entrepreneurs in Nepal are mainly low access to credit and marketing networks, lack of access to land and property and reduced risk-taking capacity, lack of access to modern technology, lack of personal security and risk of sexual harassment, severe competition from organized units both in the domestic as well as the international markets, low level of self-confidence, and social and cultural barriers such as exclusive responsibility for household work, restrictions on mobility (ADB, 1999a).

In Pakistan, Roomi and Parrot (2008) found that women entrepreneurs do not enjoy the same opportunities as men due to a number of deep-rooted discriminatory socio-cultural values and traditions. These restrictions can be observed within the support mechanism that exist to assist such fledgling businesswomen. The economic potential of female entrepreneurs is not being realized as they suffer from a lack of access to capital, land, business premises, information technology, training and agency assistance. Inherent attitudes of a patriarchal society, that men are superior to women and that women are best suited to be homemakers, create formidable challenges. Women also receive little encouragement from some male family members, resulting in limited spatial mobility and a dearth of social capital. Their research suggests that in order to foster development, multiagency cooperation is required. The media, educational policy makers and government agencies could combine to provid e women with improved access to business development services and facilitate local, regional and national networks. This would help integration of women entrepreneurs into the mainstream economy.

In Indonesia, the low representative of women entrepreneurs can be attributed to at least four main factors.

First, low level of education and lack of training opportunities. It is especially true for women living in rural areas or in relatively backward provinces. This fact is consistent with a report on gender mainstreaming in the education system in Indonesia cited in Suharyo (2005) which shows that, the illiteracy rate for women is still higher than men, and the gap between men and women in rural areas is much higher than that in urban areas.

Secondly, heavy household chores place a demand on women especially those in rural areas who have more children. They are required to perform their traditional role as housewives and therefore, they have fewer hours of free time than men, both during the weekend and on weekdays.

Thirdly, there may be legal, traditions, customs, cultural or religious constraints on the extent to which women can open their own businesses. Especially in rural areas rather isolated from big cities like Jakarta. Islamic-based norms have stronger influence on women daily life. This makes female behavior or attitude in rural areas less open than male (or than urban women) to "doing modern business" culture. In such society, women must fully comply with their primary duty as their husband's partner and housewife, they are not allowed to start their own businesses or to do jobs that involve contact with or managing men, or simply they are not allowed to leave the home alone.

Fourthly, there is lack of access to formal credit and financial institutions. This is indeed a key concern of women business owners, in fact not only in Indonesia but also in other Asian developing countries. This is found to be more problematic for women in rural areas or outside of major metropolitan areas such as Jakarta and Surabaya.

In Malaysia, the problems faced by women entrepreneurs are the same as those in Indonesia. In addition to these problems, Ming-Yen et al. (2007) found that women entrepreneurs in Malaysia also faced a shortage of peer support networks compared with men even though various women entrepreneurs and industry associations have been formed which generally serve as a platform for women entrepreneurs to establish networks and exchange information and experiences as well as to conduct training programmes, seminars and workshops on motivation, leadership and entrepreneur development and to provide other means of support. According to their study, this is due to the fact that women may not join these associations as they might be overloaded with business and family responsibilities. This limits the women entrepreneurs' ability to seek informal advice and peers financing as well as the information networks needed for survival and growth. This might pose a challenge to women entreprene urs in establishing networks which are helpful to the survival of their businesses.

Conclusion

Based on limited data and literature, this paper has tried to examine the participation of women as entrepreneurs in SMEs in Asian developing countries. The main issue of women entrepreneurship development discussed in this paper is the main constraints facing women to become entrepreneurs or existing women entrepreneurs to sustain or grow. The paper shows a number of interesting facts. In Asian developing countries, as they accounted, on average, for more than 95% of all firms, thus the biggest source of employment, providing livelihood for over 90% of the country's workforce, especially women and the young. Women entrepreneurs are mainly found in MIEs that is, traditional and low income generating activities. Majority of women entrepreneurs in the region were not drawn to entrepreneurship by "pull" factors, such as the need for a challenge, the urge to try something on their own and to be independent, to show others that they are capable of doing well in business, to be recognized by the society (self-esteem), hobby, or to use spare time, but by "push" factors such as poverty, unemployment, the need to have more cash income to support the family daily expenditures, and precaution motives (anticipation if husband is laid-off or unemployed, and other emergency needs). This may suggest that when women in the region are better educated and have greater well-paid employment opportunities, their participation in SMEs may decline.

References

v Charumathi B (1998). "Women entrepreneur's challenges and prospects", in C. Swarajya Lakshmi (ed.), Development of Women Entrepreneurship in India: Problems and Prospects, New Delhi: Discovery Publishing House.

v Dhameja SK, Bhatia BS, Saini JS (2002). "Problems and constraints of women entrepreneurship", in D.D. Sharma and S.K. Dhameja (eds.). Women and Rural Entrepreneurship, Chandigarh: Abhishek Publications).

v Dhillon P (1998). Women Entrepreneurs: Problems and Prospects, New Delhi: Blaze Publishers and Distributors.

v Giovannelli C, Gunnsteinsdottir H, Me A (2003). "The status of statistics on women and men's entrepreneurship in the UNECE region", paper presented at Workshop on Improving Statistics on SMEs and Entrepreneurship, OECD, Paris, 17-19 September.

v ILO (2008). Global Employment Trends for Women 2008, March, Geneva: International Labour Office.

v Seymour N (2001). "Women entrepreneurs in the developing world", CELCEE Digest No. 01-04, Kansas City, Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, Clearinghouse on Entrepreneurship Education, August, http://www.celcee.edu/.

v WEF (2007). The Global Gender Gap Report 2007, Geneva: World Economic Forum.

v UNDP (2008). The Human Development Report 2007/2008, New York: United Nations Development Programme.

v Sinha A (2003). Experience of SMEs in South and South-East Asia, Washington, D.C. SEDF and World Bank.

v Sinhal S (2005). "Developing Women Entrepreneurs in South Asia: Issues, Initiatives and Experiences", ST/ESCAP/2401, Trade and Investment Division, Bangkok: UNESCAP.

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Parrot Care Tips - The Five Things You Must Do

If you are seriously considering buying a parrot, taking the time to read this article will be very beneficial. The key thing to think about before you go ahead and buy a parrot is - are you willing to devote the required amount of time to properly care for a pet parrot? Parrot care should be taken very seriously, because it is very important for the health and well-being of your pet, and it requires a lot of time to do properly.

Parrots have been popular pets for centuries now, and it is easy to see why - they come in a variety of colours; they have great personalities; they are very bright and intelligent; and they are reasonably easy to train. However, these pros often cause people to overlook the negative points associated with having a pet parrot, and they rush out and buy a parrot without properly considering how much time and effort is required to properly look after one. Very sadly, this results in lots of parrots acquiring behavioural problems.

Altho ugh there are over 350 species of parrot, and each species has slightly different parrot care needs, there are certain common 'parrot care' factors that are important to all of them:

Cages - Nothing has more of an impact on a parrot's mental health than the size of its cage. The cage needs to be easily big enough to enable your parrot to fully spread out and flap its wings. There also needs to be enough room in the cage for five large parrot toys, without the parrot being cramped. Frequently check the cage for damage that could harm your bird (e.g. sharp metal edges caused by your parrot chewing the cage).

Socialization - When parrots are left on their own, they often experience mental health problems. Therefore, it is very important that they get lots of social interaction with you and your family - treat him like a member of your family, and he will act like one! The best way to ensure this happens is to place the cage in a location in your home where you and your family spend the majority of your time. Note: Don't put the cage in your kitchen, because cooking often gives off chemicals that are toxic to parrots.

Food - Even though diets vary slightly from species to species, there are many common foods that are good for all types of parrots. Every parrot's diet should include the following foods: fresh water, parrot seed (vitamin enriched), fresh fruits and vegetables, and parrot pellets.

Cage Cleanliness - Clean the cage every dayeach day, but only use water and mild soap. You should always wash your hands before you handle a parrot, or prepare his food, because it is very easy to give a parrot a bacterial infection. For example, human saliva contains bacteria which is very harmful to parrots.

Parrot Grooming - Parrots require a lot of grooming. Their beaks and nails don't stop growing, and require clipping approximately every 4 or 5 weeks. This is essential, because long beaks and nails can easily result in your parrot getting snagged on various bits of his cage, which can cause an injury. You also need to provide water baths or water sprays every day to keep your parrots' feathers in really good condition.

In conclusion, if you are prepared to provide the proper parrot care, owning a parrot is really enjoyable and rewarding. Parrots thrive in normal household environments, and they make fantastic pets and companions. However, please remember that adopting a parrot is a long-term commitment, because parrots can live anywhere between 15 and 80 years.

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African Pet Parrots need special Parrot Cages

When you get an African Pet Parrot for yourself, you will have a pet for life. African Pet Parrots live for 50 to 70 years, which is almost equal to that of human beings. Just make sure you buy the right parrot cages for your pet.

The African Grey Parrot may even go on to outlive you; therefore, there is no need to shed tears anymore because your pet died. The African Parrot has been a favorite pet throughout the world since time immemorial. Rearing African Parrots is a full-fledged business in Africa, and businessmen there breed them specifically to sell these to buyers from across the world. But these parrots do require large and special parrot cages to keep them in.

Adaptable African Pet Parrots
The African Pet Parrot adapts to local conditions very quickly as it manages to fit perfectly almost anywhere in the world. Though common sense tells us that the African Parrot will not be the ri ght choice in homes where there is too much open space or you have dogs and cats, or even children. The African Parrot is known for its friendly nature, which can be detrimental to the safety of young children.

The male Parrots tend to be larger in size with round eyes whereas females are smaller and have elliptical eyes. These parrots, however, come at a cost. You may have to pay anything in the range of $500 to $1000 for the parrots. The parrot cages also need to be better, sturdier, and long lasting due to the longer life of African parrots.
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Parrot Cages: All I Want Is A Cage Somewhere

The 1964 musical "My Fair Lady" features a song entitled "Wouldn't It Be Loverly?" with music by Frederick Loewe, lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner. In that song, Eliza sings: "All I want is a room somewhere, Far away from the cold night air, With one enormous chair. Oh, wouldn't it be loverly?"

Parrots, were they able to verbalize, might sing a similar tune: "All I want is a cage somewhere, Strong and spacious, but not too bare, With tender, loving care. Oh, wouldn't it be loverly?"

Parrot Cages

Just as parrots come in many sizes, parrot cages vary from small to large. They come in rectangles and cylinders, plain and fancy. Parrot cages can be difficult to purchase, and the savvy buyer will do research before attempting to do so. Four of the factors to be considered are given here, but you will want to discuss your final purchase with a knowledgeable dealer.

1. Parrot Breed and Size

The breed and size of your parrot figure strongly in the consideration of available parrot cages.

Large birds need sufficient space to stretch big wings, climb around, and enjoy healthy exercise. Large parrot cages are needed for parrots in the size range of African Grey Parrots, Amazons, Cockatoos, and Macaws. Large parrot cages should be made of steel or metal, and have a bar spacing of one or more inches. Any smaller spacing in large parrot cages will permit your parrot to get caught and injure itself.

Medium parrot cages are good for medium size parrots such as Caiques, Cockatiels, Conures, and Senegals. Medium parrot cages should have steel or metal bars spaced 1/2 to 5/8 inch apart. Parrot cages with larger or smaller bar spacing may allow your bird to be injured.

If you have a small parrot such as a Budgerigar (Budgie), Lovebird, or Parrotlet, you will need to look at small parrot cages. Small parrot cages also should be of steel or metal, since all parrots love to chew. Bar spacing should be 1/2 inch or less in small parrot cages.

2. Configuration

The configuration of parrot cages is the size and shape. Since parrots like to climb and fly, parrot cages need to be tall. Even the most basic, small parrot cages should be at least 7-8 inches taller than their width and depth. Dome tops are functional as well as attractive in parrot cages. The parrot will amuse itself climbing across the dome. Wide cages are important for larger parrots, as they will need to fly back and forth. While some parrot cages are built to resemble castles or Victorian homes, complete with turrets, one must be sure the décor does not involve sharp edges or small corners where a parrot can injure feet or beak.

3. Accessories

Accessories can go a long way toward making parrot cages "loverly" in the parrot's thinking. Stands raise parrot cages to a higher level, allowing the b ird to see more, and feel more a part of the "flock" in your home. Stands also give owners better access to their parrots. For parrots that crave more attention, parrot cages on wheeled stands can be moved from room to room.

Parrot cages can also be topped with exercise areas, providing entertainment and exercise when the parrot is out for play. Swings, ladders, toys, steps, and more can be included in playgrounds.

The feeder cups in parrot cages should be easily accessible, and should be made of steel, ceramic, or reinforced plastic. Parrots will chew on the cups as part of their exercise, and can readily destroy other materials.

Parrot cages require at least three different perches, each made of a different material. Rope, hardwood, and cement are three possibilities. Proper perches are important to the health of your parrot's feet.

Cage covers are important additions to parrot cages, allowing your bird to get the right d ark and light cycle to get sufficient rest.

4. Toys

Finally, all parrot cages will need convenient places to attach toys - and entertaining toys to be attached. Like parrot cages, parrot toys come in different sizes and materials to suit the breed of parrot. Parrot toys do not have to be elaborate. Toys may entertain, and may stimulate your bird intellectually, but their main purpose is to help parrots use the actions they would use in the wild. Toys help them "hunt" food, hide in the "leaves" of a tree, and exercise their beaks to keep them strong.

Toys in parrot cages can be for their feet, giving them foot exercise that helps them maintain dexterity. Toys may be filled with food that parrots must retrieve, chewing away obstacles as they would in the wild. Small mirrors in parrot cages allow the birds to converse with "friends" in the same tree.

Learn as much as you can about your parrot breed, and ask for appropr iate toys that will meet the bird's varied needs.

Conclusion: Parrot cages are a big investment. Be sure you shop carefully.

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Parrot Rescue - Michigan Has An Answer

Pet parrot rescue in Michigan is an example of what it should be in every state and in every country. KARE, a pet parrot rescue group in Michigan, is in business not only to rescue unwanted pet parrots. They also adopt out pet parrots that have been rescued, and educate people about parrots. Reading their mission statement is encouraging. In it they state that they believe
all pet birds deserve quality care, love, and respect. They also believe there should be a place where bird owners can find the most current bird care information possible.

The pet parrot rescue in Michigan puts its mission statement to work in many ways. Usually this means parrot rescue on a small scale. Perhaps the biggest parrot rescue project in recent years was the one that followed Hurricane Katrina. KARE deployed rescuers to Baton Rouge, Louisiana in support of Hurricane Katrina's bird victims, parrots or not. The parrot rescuers joined the huge animal rescue effort that was ju st getting underway. Pet parrot rescue in Michigan became pet parrot rescue in Louisiana.

How It Works

Pet parrot rescue in Michigan, KARE takes its name from the words Knapptime, Adoption, Rescue, and Education. Those three branches form the basis for any successful parrot rescue program.

1. Rescue: Parrot rescue always begins with rescuing pet parrots. This does not always mean rescue such as was needed after Hurricane Katrina. It may be as simple as accepting, from owners, pet parrots that are no longer wanted. Parrots can live for 50 years or more. Many owners do not think about that when purchasing a parrot. Some time later, as the owner's life changes, he or she can no longer care for the parrot. In some cases, the owner dies, and the parrot is left behind. In other cases, the parrot becomes aggressive, and the owner no longer wants the pet. Parrot rescue accepts these parrots and cares for them.

2. A doption: Parrot rescue involves finding new homes for parrots that have been rescued. This is easy with some parrots. They are well behaved, beautiful, and talkative. The adopting family can get a good pet for less than they would pay elsewhere. Finding homes for some rescued parrots is more difficult. The bird may need training to correct behavioral problems. It may have been neglected or abused. The parrot rescue group must evaluate the rescued parrots, and find appropriate homes. In some case, the best home must be a shelter or sanctuary, since it will never again do well in a pet situation.

3. Education: The third prong involved in parrot rescue is education. The pet parrot rescue in Michigan works to educate people who are interested in bird ownership. They want to help them learn the proper care of pet birds. This includes instruction before purchase about the bird's expected life span. It includes information about proper feeding of parrots and how large a cage a parrot needs. Parrot rescue also should educate people about the options they have if they find they cannot keep a parrot.

If You Need Parrot Rescue

People who reach a point where they cannot keep a pet parrot should contact a place such as this pet parrot rescue in Michigan. Similar parrot rescue groups exist in a number of states.

The reasons for being unable to keep your parrot may be as simple as being unable to afford proper care for the bird. You may have insufficient finances to take the parrot to a veterinarian.

Some people cannot keep a parrot when they relocate overseas. Even relocation that involves a smaller home, or an apartment, may make it logistically impossible to keep the bird.

You could try to sell your parrot, and some people do. Prospective owners may be leery, though, of buying a parrot from a newspaper classified as. They may have heard of parrots that are sold because of aggression. Donating your pet parrot to a parrot rescue group will not give you money in return, but you will know that the parrot will be placed in the right permanent home.

Parrot rescue groups often have waiting lists of adoptive homes. They do everything they can to be sure the bird gets the best possible home.

Kudos for You

Parrot rescue groups often operate in the red. It is costly to care for a number of parrots and other birds. They require numerous cages, hundreds of pounds of food on a regular basis, and modest salaries for their workers.

You will be greatly appreciated when you donate, with your parrot, its cage, perches, playground, toys, and food.

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Parrot Adoption: What You Need to Know

2. Quaker parrots for sale

There are many ways to advertise, even with as few words as that, but do you really need to €sell€ your parrots? Might you find a better home through parrot adoption?

What Is Parrot Adoption?

Parrot adoption is very much like baby adoption. Those who have parrots they cannot care for offer them to people who want a parrot. The adoptive parrot owners may not be able to afford the initial outlay, or they may simply want to give a good home to a parrot that must be relocated.

Parrot adoption does not always mean €free€ parrots. The term is also used for inexpensive parrots purchased from former owners.

Finding Interested Homes

Parrot adoption requires good homes, of course, but how do you find them? One way to begin is to place a newspaper ad, as you would if you were selling. You might write: €Parrots for adoption€ or €Quaker parrots for adoption to good homes€ or €Adopt a parrot€.

If you are unsuccessful with ads, try contacting a parrot rescue foundation or parrot adoption organization. They may be able to put you in contact with someone wanting parrots like yours. They may have someone on their waiting lists.

Evaluating Prospective Homes

€But it€s just a parrot!€ you squawk. Not really. It is a creature that will live many years. During those years, it will need health, safety, love, and happiness. You will want to try your best to provide those by asking a few questions of prospective owners € getting to know them a little. You will want to try, also, to ensure your parrot will not have to move soon again. For proper parrot adoption, begin with these questions.
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Parrot Tricks - Notes on Simple Parrot Tricks

Parrot methods are enjoyable and 1 major purpose why numerous like to pet parrots. Their reputation is due to the birdS ability to entertain their owners. It presents delight to parrot owners to be graced with a bird in their households that can amuse and make them feel joyful and entertained. Parrots have the innate capability to discover some tricks by on their own but numerous are capable to execute distinctive parrot methods that they find out from their masters or trainers.

By the way, this article is sponsored by oven fresh bites parrot food. A natural parrot food that is oven baked to perfection. While these methods may not be as challenging as other more complicated methods, you can see it is enjoyable to educate to your parrots. You will be surprised how enjoyable it is to train parrots and how satisfying it is to see them carry out even just the most simple and easiest of parrot methods.

It is discouraged to educate parrots when you are unab le to even caress or touch them with out becoming bitten. Parrot teaching can be rewarding apart from having a thing to boast about. Teaching parrots even the fundamental methods can assist modify their conduct. Birds that are tame, obedient and know a handful of methods to carry out can make them a lot more sociable and happier pets. It also improves their characteristic behaviors.

Nonetheless, it ought to be kept in head that although parrot methods can supply these rewards to the bird, not all parrots exhibit the identical constructive response.

The 1st step in direction of teaching is to ensure that there is constructive response from the bird. In no way begin the teaching when there is vehement resistance from the bird to cooperate. You should commence the coaching appropriate by starting when your bird is prepared. The training should be carried out in a place in which there is no distraction and wherever your bird feels far more cozy.

You can begin instructing them this trick by letting them keep on their stand as you gently put your pointer finger into their reduce belly.

The bird will instinctively step their feet into your finger and when they do say the word action up? If the parrot does not action up on your finger repeat the exact same process until finally they do. This cycle should be carried out about once more until finally they acknowledge the cue of the phrase step up.

Yet another standard trick that you can just teach parrots is the turn close to trick. You require the bird to stand yet again and warm them up initially by performing the step up trick. Then display them their favored treat at eye level and when they attempt to attain for it somewhat deliver the meals about them.

The bird's instinct will to turn its head to stick to the treat. Other parrots will not only turn their head but their whole entire body as nicely. As they do these motions associate it with the phrase turn all around?

You will be delighted to see that your pretty pet can do these simple parrot methods that can make you fell content and proud.

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