Gender and Market Oriented Agriculture Workshop ILRI/IPMS January 31 st –February 2, 2011

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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 tools Wealth 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 4. Gender characteristics of rural populations 4.2. Rural livelihood 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 Men • 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

9. 4. Gender characteristics……. 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 1. Incidence of female-headed households Figure 2. Distribution of male and female-headed households by wealth category The specific challenges of FHHs should be understood as they face challenges as compared to MHHs

10. 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

11. 5.1 Gender division of labour in crop production Though the division of task varies b/n commodities and location it is possible to make some broad generalization 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 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

12. 5.1. Gender division of labour……. There are also inter-regional differences in division of labor illustrated by pepper • 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 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

13. 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 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 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

14. 5.2. Gender roles in marketing …… Control over the income differs with the level of production illustrated by fruit production in Goma • 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

15. 5.3. Gender based preferences for seeds Women’s preferences for crop varieties differ from that of men • 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)

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. Thank you!