Gender and Market Oriented Agriculture workshop, ILRI Jan 31 st , 2011 Addis Ababa

1. Strategies in increasing women’s participation in commodity value chain development: Lesson from IPMS ExperiencesLemlem Aregu and Ranjitha Puskur Gender and Market Oriented Agriculture workshop, ILRI Jan 31st, 2011 Addis Ababa

2. 1. Introduction • IPMS is a five year CIDA funded project, started its implementation in 2005 • Implemented by ILRI on behalf of MoARD • In 10 PLWs (Pilot Learning Woredas); In 4 Regions • Tigray: Atsbi and Alamata • Amhara: Metema, Fogera and Bure • Oromia: Goma, Ada’a and Meisso • SNNPR : Alaba and Dale • Participatory commodity development using a value chain approach (production, input and output marketing, rural finance) • Gender, HIV/AIDS and Env’t are cross cutting issues • Gender roles and responsibilities play determining roles in the production and marketing of agricultural commodities

3. 1. Introduction • However, the introduction of new technologies and practices often either • disregards the gender consequences or • many benefits bypass women including business development services, training and credit. • This has implications not only for equity, but also may be detrimental to the long-term sustainability of commercialization. • IPMS took steps to mainstream gender • Developed gender strategy • Collected and analysed Gender baseline infn • Raised the awareness of partners on gender • Prepared gender action plans in each PLW • Provided gender training to the frontline workers • IPMS also Identified and employed a number of approaches and strategies to promote gender equality in commodity value chain development • However, the introduction of new technologies and practices often either • disregards the gender consequences or • many benefits bypass women including business development services, training and credit. • This has implications not only for equity, but also may be detrimental to the long-term sustainability of commercialization. • IPMS took steps to mainstream gender • Developed gender strategy • Collected and analysed Gender baseline infn • Raised the awareness of partners on gender • Prepared gender action plans in each PLW • Provided gender training to the frontline workers • IPMS also Identified and employed a number of approaches and strategies to promote gender equality in commodity value chain development

4. 2. Methods and Process • Gender disaggregated information on priority commodity have been collected and analyzed using PRA at the initial stage of the project • Gender commodity fact sheets have been produced • The findings were also shared with partners • Individual case studies have been conducted to assess d/f approaches used to increase women’s participation • M & E report of the project was also reviewed • Annual review meetings used to share the experience among PLWs • Individual case story illustrated the strategy is published as a draft case book

5. 3. Approaches used to increase women’s participation in commodity value chain development ? 3.1Introduction of technologies for commodities which women hold more stake in • Poultry in Atsbi, Bure, Goma and Dale • Dairy in Atsbi, Alamata and Ada • Ensured a reasonable proportion of women are targeted and benefited • Found to be easy to target women in women dominated commodity 3.2 Looking for technologies and commodities required lower amounts of resources • It will be practically impossible and long way to engage women in CD specially male headed household • Because women have no or limited control power over the important agricultural resources (land and farm tools) • improved fruit seedling production for market in Goma, Bure & Dale • They produced a hundreds of seedlings in a plot of land

6. 3. Approaches used to increase women’s participation in commodity value chain development 3.3 Target women on commodity they share responsibilities though not reward • Vegetable in Atsbi, Alamata, Fogera, Meisso and Ada • Small ruminants in Atsbi, Metema, Bure, Meisso & Goma • Although women contributed for the production they don’t control the income • Women enjoyed the income and benefit from commodities they share responsibilities though they were not reward before 3.4 See opportunities to target women in male dominated enterprises • Apiculture in Ada, Fogera and Alaba • Strictly keep out women away production & marketing of honey • B/c in the traditional system the beehives have to be hanged up on the tips of the tree branches preferable in the forest • However in the modern bee keeping system, the modern and the transitional beehives can be kept around the homestead

7. 4 .identification and promotion of labor saving technologies Conservation Tillage- in Bure and Metema- • The 3-4 times ploughing reduced to one time ploughing and replaced by application of herbicides for weed clearing • CT Helps women to minimize their labour requirement for hiring or lending land for labour and oxen. Weed Control Herbicides- in Metema • Weeding is a tedious and time consuming production activities that women have more involvement in it • Contribute to save the women’s labour and time for other productive and household activities. LSTs bring a ray of hope to the women that lead them engagement to commodity development

8. 5. Strategise used to increase women’s Access to knowledge and services for VCD Couples training-In Ada, Fogera, Bure and Alaba • Training held near to the village & Convenient time of the day to women • Helped women to have attentive participation in the trainings • Both husbands and wives trained together • Widen up opportunity for women to have access for information Importance of venue and timing of training-in all PLWs Experience sharing events • Inspired many women to use new technologies and engaged in VCD in all PLWs Credit- • The majority of women who trained in CVC linked with MFI and provided with loan

9. 6.Implication for scaling up • it is important to take all the steps towards addressing the issue of gender • Gender strategy • Gender analysis • Gender action plan • Build the capacity of practioners • It is also important to use a combination of approaches and strategies to target women in value chain • women dominated commodities • Shared commodities • Men dominated commodities • Complimentary supports are also paramount for their success • Provision of knowledge and skill on production and marketing of commodities • Provision of credit

10. Thank you!