Abstract:
Agriculture is the fundamental economic sector and main source of income in Ethiopia
households in general and rural households in particular. In settled agriculture, women are
active labor forces in all aspects of agricultural production. Nonetheless, women's contribution
to agricultural production is constantly expanding, yet women continue to face traditional
restraints. The primary aim of the study is to identify rural women's empowerment in the study
area. The study applied a mixed research approach. Simple random, purposively, and stratified
sampling techniques were used to select the Makuey district, selected kebelles, and sample
respondents from the study district. At the same time, the primary and secondary data were
gathered. Besides, the collected data were analyze by a descriptive statistic like table, graph,
frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation and using inferential statistics like t-test,
chi-square test, and econometric model. The result of the binary logit model indicates that access
to extension services; livestock holding size, farmland ownership, and total annual income were
significant factors that influence the dependent variable. Additionally, lack of access to credit,
heavy workload, and lack of asset ownership contributed most to women's disempowerment
based on WEAI results. In general, even though, fertilizer utilization and agricultural training
are not on regular basis, it is a big thing for people like women. The model indicated that access
to extension services, livestock holding size, farmland ownership, and total annual income were
the only significant factors that affect rural women. The study finally concludes that the provision
of services by government and non-governmental organizations should be relevant for remote
people to improve their household incomes. Therefore, the strategy should be developing by
government and non-governmental organizations to increases the agricultural technologies
inputs for women farmers. Possibly, the government and non-governmental organizations should
work hard by challenging all factors that hamper women. In the same token, the district kebelles
must also consider farmers' needs when distributing improved seed varieties and finally, the
cooperatives should be giving at a low-interest rate to lenders
