HE RURAL WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES: THE CASE OF MAKUEY DISTRICT OF GAMBELLA REGION, SUOTH-WEST ETHIOPIA

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