Gender Disparity in Access to Agricultural Resources and Services (Evidence from Arba Minch Zuria Woreda of Southern Ethiopia)

Agidew Abebe

doi:10.11648/j.aff.20170606.11

Abstract

The study was conducted at Arba Minch Zuria Woreda. The main objective of this study was focused on the assessment of gender disparity in access to agricultural resources and services. This study covers the two Kebeles from the Arba Minch Zuria Woreda. From those two Kebeles 104 respondent household sware included in this study. The data were analyzed through simple descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage and mean) and inferential statistics (independent t-test). The result showed that male respondents had better mean land holding and irrigated land size than that of female respondents. Male respondents had better access to irrigation water than female respondents. The reasons behind this were in the study area the irrigation was labor and capital intensive practice. Therefore, those who have low family labor have less access to use irrigation water. Motorized water pump was less adopted by both male and female respondents. The reason was its high purchasing and maintenance cost. Therefore, it was not afforded by most of the farmers. The result also shows that male farmers have better access to extension training than female farmers. In the study area both male and female respondent farmers were affected by different constraints in access to productive resource. The finding suggested that, the governmental and non-governmental organization should give empathies for adult education and extension training for women. It improves women’s awareness and understanding about different agricultural resources and improved farm technologies.

Highlights

In rural areas, where agriculture is still the main source of income, land remains the key household asset
The mean land holding size of men respondents’ was 1.23 hectares and that of women respondents’ was 0.76 hectares. This mean difference shows that male respondents had relatively better access to land than female respondents
The result shows that male respondents have better access to irrigation water

Summary

Introduction

In rural areas, where agriculture is still the main source of income, land remains the key household asset. Strengthening women’s access to and control over land is an important means of raising their status and influence within households and communities. In Africa’s agricultural sector, women are responsible for producing 80% of the food, as opposed to men who tend to engage more in income generating activities such as cash crop production, perhaps because of their responsibility of availing food for the family. Despite this essential contribution to household food production and provision, access to resources such as appropriate technologies, modern farming methods, markets, credit and extension services for women is limited [5]

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion