Abstract
Ethiopia is a country where more than 85% of its population depend on rain fed agriculture. Agriculture is the back bone of the national economy. Both men and women have been playing a significant role in the development of agricultural production. This paper draws on the available empirical evidence to review in which areas and to what degree women participate along agricultural value chain. Women make essential contributions to the agricultural and rural economies in all developing countries. Their roles vary considerably between and within regions. Their activities typically include producing agricultural crops, processing and marketing. Rural women often manage complex households and pursue multiple livelihood strategies. Their activities typically include producing agricultural crops, tending animals, processing and preparing food, working for wages in agricultural or other rural enterprises, collecting fuel and water, engaging in trade and marketing, caring for family members and maintaining their homes. However, evidence suggests that women tend to lose income and control as a product moves from the farm to the market. Women participation influenced by social, cultural, demographic, institutional and economic factors. So, it needs both governmental and non-governmental organizations intervention to support, encourage and give priority for increasing production, processing and marketing of agricultural products and minimize differences among women and men. Keywords: women, women role and agricultural value chain DOI : 10.7176/JCSD/45-03
Highlights
Rural women often manage complex households and pursue multiple livelihood strategies. Their activities typically include producing agricultural crops, tending animals, processing and preparing food, working for wages in agricultural or other rural enterprises, collecting fuel and water, engaging in trade and marketing, caring for family members and maintaining their homes. Many of these activities are not defined as “economically active employment” in national accounts but they are essential to the wellbeing of rural households. (Frank, 1999), women constitute the backbone of food production system in the economy of Ethiopia (EARO, 2000)
Women role in agricultural production Agricultural sector is the principal engine of growth of the Ethiopian economy; it employs 83% of the labour force, contributes about 90% of exports and 45% of gross domestic product (GDP), and provides about 70% of the country’s raw material requirement for large-and medium-scale industries (MoARD, 2009)
Women have a significant participation along agriculture value chain activities such as production, processing and marketing of agricultural www.iiste.org products
Summary
Rural women often manage complex households and pursue multiple livelihood strategies Their activities typically include producing agricultural crops, tending animals, processing and preparing food, working for wages in agricultural or other rural enterprises, collecting fuel and water, engaging in trade and marketing, caring for family members and maintaining their homes. Many of these activities are not defined as “economically active employment” in national accounts but they are essential to the wellbeing of rural households. Many of these activities are not defined as “economically active employment” in national accounts but they are essential to the wellbeing of rural households. (Frank, 1999), women constitute the backbone of food production system in the economy of Ethiopia (EARO, 2000)
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