The Role of Gender in crop Value Chain in Ethiopia:

Lemlem Aregu, Ranjitha Puskur and Clare Bishop Sambrook

Gender and Market Oriented Agriculture Workshop ILRI/IPMS

January 31st –February 2, 2011 Addis Ababa

1.Background

Rural women represent a tremendous productive force in the agri sector of Ethiopia either As a family member or Heading the household

Considering this the gov’t was initiating policy to strengthen the position of women PASDEP, 2005 planed to reach out 30% and100% of women in

MHH & FHH respectively in the agri extension program GTP………….. However, despite of this initiatives women’s contribution to

household food security is limited and lesser extent inhibited the commercialization of agriculture due to a mixture of constraints

Economic Cultural norms and practices

1.Background

Gender roles and relationships influences The division of work The use of resources The sharing of the benefits between men and women

However the introduction of new technologies including the improved services often disregards the gender consequences of market oriented growth

This circumstances not only have implications for issues of equality but also have negative impacts on to the long term sustainability of development initiatives

By considering this IPMS has conducted the gender analysis on the priority commodities select each PLWs as first step in addressing the gender issues in commodity development

2. Objectives

To understand the different roles of women and men in crop production, marketing, decision making and their share in benefits

To identify potential barriers for women’s and men’s participation in market-led development initiatives

To identify what actions may be required by the project in order to overcome some of the barriers

3. Methods and process

Qualitative studies undertaken by the project in 4 regions across 10 PLWs

The field work was conducted between 2005 and 2007

The information was gathered in 4 PAs per each woredas

Using a range of participatory toolsWealth ranking, proportional pilling and

10 to 28 community members participated (1/3rd-1/2 of were women)

A separate discussion also made with men and women community members

3. Methods and process

The gender analysis were also made Division of labour in production

Who does which production activities Role of gender in marketing

Who sell what Access and control of resources and benefits

Who control the income from the sell of the produces Access to inputs technologies, information and services

Who does access to which input, technologies and services

What are the sources of information technologies for men and women

Decision making Who decide on what

The findings shared among partners through various events and means

Published also as a working paper

4. Gender characteristics of rural populations

4.1. Workload of rural women In Ethiopia most rural women work from dawn to dusk (They work

10-12 hours per day) In contrast with men they have little time for leisure or socializing Because women are not only the major source of labor in agri They are also responsible for caring of children and the whole

family members as their household responsibilities Where ½ of their working hours devoted HH activities In rainfed farming systems, men workload is lightest during the

dry season compared to HHs with access to irrigated land

However despite their immense contribution to the society, women’s productive, domestic and community activities

seem to be under valued

4. Gender characteristics of rural populations

Women They engaged also in a divers off-farm

livelihood activities This is partly reflected by

the local farming systems Resource endowments & wealth

In Rich and middle wealth HHs Trade in agr products at small scale

From poor HHs Work as casual laborer on farm and

in the home of rich HHs Sell fuel wood, sorghum/maize stalk Engaged in cotton spinning or injera

making for sell

4.2. Rural livelihoodMen

Men also undertake a wide range of off-farm activities

Influenced by wealth Rich men involved activities that

require capital Trading in agri product Investing in processing

equipments Lending money

From poor HHs Work as casual laborer on

farm Migrate temporarily for work

4. Gender characteristics…….

1318

36

25

50

67

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Rich Middle Poor

MHHFHH

4.3. Female headed HHs On average the proportion of FHHs is 15-35% in Ethiopia They are found among the poorer HH in each community Though few are found in the rich or middle wealth groups

Figure 2. Distribution of male and female-headed households by wealth category

Region Range of FHH in %

Tigray 35 35

Amhara 16 35

Oromia 18 30

South 15 26

Total 15 35

Figure 1. Incidence of female-headed households

The specific challenges of FHHs should be understood as they face challenges as compared to MHHs

5. Overview of the workload and the share of benefits

The division farm task b/n women & men varies according to Farming system The technology used The wealth of the HH

Control over benefits of the production varies b/n women & men also reflects Their labour input The use of produce for home or sale Cultural norms

Generally men are a key players in crop production and; They are the principal beneficiaries in terms of control over the income

generated from the sale of the produces Though there are crop enterprises where women & men share both the

workloads and the benefits There are also very few crop enterprise where women dominate both the

workloads and the benefits

It is necessary to conduct site and commodity specific to understand gender roles and relations in crop value

5.1 Gender division of labour in crop production

MEN Men are typically responsible for heavier manual

tasks like tillage Men play dominant role in seed selection, reflecting

their better access to information They also involved in skilled jobs of broadcasting

seed and fertilizer However once the household adopted row planting

any family members can plant including women Men are also responsible for threshing and

winnowing

Though the division of task varies b/n commodities and location it is possible to make some broad generalization

WOMEN Women are involved with activities

require dexterity and attention to details like rasing seedlings, transplanting and weeding

They are also responsible closely associated with their household responsibilities like storage, processing and adding value

Deviations But during critical time of the activities both women and men do the activities together like

weeding and harvesting Richer HHs often overcome labour peaks by hiring labour Where as middle wealth use reciprocal labour arrangement ( Debo,Jigi, wenfel…) The poor may also use reciprocal labour arrangement but they use their family labour Women support these, through providing refreshment food & drink preparation

In Fogera most of the activities associated with growing peppers are done by women

Where as in Alaba performed solely by men While in Bure the activities are shared

5.1. Gender division of labour…….

There are also inter-regional differences in division of labor illustrated by pepper

Division of labor differences by wealth group In Miesso men perform all activities in mazie and sorghum

production in rich HHs Where as the activities are shared in middle and poor HHs Generally the gender division of labour less marked in poor

HHs the income tend to share more equitable

MEN Men from rich and middle wealth

HHs often sell major crops in bulk On occasionally they may travel to

distance market to secure high price May be they don’t press for time

and have access to cover transport cost

But poorer farmers and women tend to accept price at local markets which they can reach on foot

Women and the poor are more likely tend to sell directly to consumers

Where as men and more wealth HHs sell to private traders and cooperatives

5.2. Gender roles in marketing and sharing the benefit of the production

The nature of market engagement differs significantly b/n women & men and influenced by wealth of HHs and level of production

WOMEN Women have little control over

the income benefits of the crop production Out of 13 crop commodities

produced for market men control the income from 11 of them

Where as women control the income from only 2 crops

And they share only from 2 crops

As a result of the dominance of men in marketing women sometimes result to sell small quantities of the produces in secrete

Which can result in market inefficiencies

5.2. Gender roles in marketing ……

When the volume of produces per HHs is small=women control the income

when it is more substantial the income tend be shared

When the production is commercialized men control the income

Control over the income differs with the level of production illustrated by fruit production in Goma

Wealth group

gender Avocado sales by HH wealth in Goma

Bulbulo LimuSapa

Gengi Elbu

Rich W 10 - -

M - - 800

T 10 - 800

Middle W 12 60 50

M - - 600

T 12 60 650

Poor W 15 - 150

M - - 20

T 15 - 170

5.3. Gender based preferences for seeds

Women opt to produce varieties which are good quality domestic consumption

Where as men prefer crop varieties which have high market demand and fetch high price

For Eg.in Ada men prefer to produce improved varieties Shash, Arerti for chick pea for the market

While women prefer the local variety Dima Poor tend to prefer generally less risky (disease

resistant and locally available crop varieties)

Women’s preferences for crop varieties differ from that of men

6. Gender access to inputs and services

Women and poor HHs access agricultural inputs mainly through the formal government sources

There are limited private sector involvement in input supply and service provision which only cater the needs of rich and middle wealth HHs

The data demonstrated that men have access to all services like credit, extension, training

Where as women particularly from MHH are marginalized.

Rich and middle HHd access credit from credit

7. Gender differences in technology adoption

Although both men and women benefit from improved technology availability

Men tend to benefit more Usually the rich and middle wealth HH derive the benefit

mostly Adoption technology among poorer inhibited by

inability to afford With few exception

In Alamata poor women benefited from improved fruit cultivars and rain water harvesting

In Atsbi women and the poor benefited also from similar technologies and practices

Generally attention is required to ensure women and poor are neither left out nor disadvantaged in development

initiatives through technology

8. Gender access to source of information, knowledge and skill The source of agri and non-agri information depend on the household

wealth and gender differences Men depend mainly on formal information sources

Men from rich & middle wealth HHs from radio, DA and extension people

They have also better access to information from informal as they socialize and participate in indigenous institutions

This will help men to improve their skill and knowledge on their performances in agricultural activities

In contrast women farmers rarely get extension supports that would enabled them to enhance their knowledge and skill and improve their performance their agri activities They depend on informal sources (neighbors & husbands)

There is a focus on men on the assumption that they will pass on the information to their wives and other members of the family which is not happen in reality

This constrains women’s access to various inputs and services including knowledge that limits their participation

in market oriented agricultural activities

9. Decision-making

Decisions about enterprise mix and technology adoption are mainly taken by men

In some cases are negotiated b/n husbands and wives

But the general trend appears to be male dominated decision in Rich and middle household

And a joint decision in poor household Only in FHHs do women control the decision what to

plant and technologies to adopt Yet this still tends to be in consultation with their

male relatives

It was noted even though men appear to be in control of decision-making they usually consult and women have a strong influence on the outcome

10. Implication for market led development

As a result of market-oriented development it is expected that workload will increase for both men and women but in different magnitude Depending on what tasks they are responsible for

Generally there is an imbalance between workload and share in the benefit of the crop production

There is very real risk process of commercialization may further marginalize women

Women may be also deprived of control over income from the limited range of commodities that they enjoy at present

Risks that further marginalize women and deprived them their control over the income they had before should be understood and measures should be introduced along side the intervention

11. Conclusion

While designing development interventions for supporting market oriented agricultural development

It is important to take account of gender differences in terms of workload, share of the benefits and accessing, inputs technologies and services

It is also relevant to consider their input preferences provide access to improved varieties which serve a

dual purpose both for home consumption and for sale in the market

Access to credit is critical to be able to use some of the modern technologies As capital scarcity acts as a barriers for women and poor to

get left out of the technology development process

It is required to conduct site and commodity specific gender analysis to understand gender roles and relations in crop

value chain

Thank you!