AN ASSESSMENT OF GENDER DIFFERENCE ON CROP MARKETPARTICIPATION IN MEDEBAY ZANA DISTRICT, NORTH WEST MSC THESIS SHIRE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Gender difference on agricultural production and marketing is serious problem inMedebayzana district and women are still poor as gender difference hascontinued as a result of low incomeand food insecurity.The general objective of this study was to assess the effect of genderdifference on crop market participation inMedebayzana district, North West Shire, Ethiopia. Inorder to achieve the objectives of the study, both quantitative and qualitative data types werecollected from primary and secondary sources. The study was employed both probability andnon-probability sampling techniques. A multi-stage sampling technique was applied to selectsample households.A total of 120 sample households were selected from list of sampling frameusing systematic random sampling methodbased on population proportion to size(69male-headed households and 51 female-headed households). Both descriptive statistics andeconometricmodel (propensity score matching method)were employed to analyze the data.Theresult of descriptive statistics showed that, the literacy status (i.e. adult education, grade (1-4),(5-8), (9-12) and above) was relatively higher inmale-headedhouseholdsgroup (78.28%) thaninfemale-headed households(21.72%) and illiterate one weremale-headed households(20.28%)and female-headed households(70.58%). Fromtotal respondent average sampled householdhead 57.5% were own radio. From these about 72.46% and 37.25%male-headed householdsandfemale-headed householdshad mass media exposure respectively.About62.74%, and35.3%,of male-headed households and female-headed household’s respond that they didn’t accessagricultural inputs. According to focus group discussion female-headed households haveresponse on the land difference that female are not inherited land from their parents due toculture.The result of propensity score matching indicated that gender participation in cropoutput selling has statistically significant and positive impact on annual household income,which motivates non-participant households to participate in income generating activities. Thematching result ofaverage treatment effect on the treatedshows that male households are betterthan female household in terms of the percent of crop output sale to the market. Finally, thegovernment and other policy makers should increase access to information on the importance ofcropmarket participation through mass media, extension service, and formal and informalinstitutions should initiates women to have equal market participation.