Social Inclusion (original) (raw)
Related papers
GENDER EQUALITY IN AGRICULTURE: A Tool for Sustainable Economic Growth
Research on Humanities and Social Sciences, 2015
This study analyzes the effect of gender inequality in agriculture and how it has impede Nigeria economic growth, gender inequality in agriculture affects women across rural and urban area. Data were collected from the rural famers (women) on issues relating to gender inequality especially women. One hundred copies of questionnaire were administered but only eighty-six were retrieved. Focus Group Discussion (FGD) were also carried out among farmers. Returned instruments were analyzed using simple percentage and the pearson product moment correlation analysis. The major finding is that gender inequalities is high in Agricultural sector and thus, hamper economic growth in Nigeria. We therefore recommend that for Nigeria steady economic growth to translate positively to the socioeconomic of her citizens the war against gender inequality should go beyond sectors or zones, it should be generally pursued. Also for the goals of the Transformation Agenda to be fully realized, the current situation of women must be factored into policy formulation and implementation.
Ethiopian economy predominantly depends on rain-fed agriculture. The sector is anticipated to support the whole economy and to change its structure. However, the country is highly affected by drought and millions of people are left without sustenance frequently. As an option, small scale irrigation schemes are important to reduce vulnerability and increase productivity. In this aspect, it is important to consider the implication of gender in irrigation crop farming under small scale scheme. This study was aimed to investigate irrigation agriculture among smallholder farmers and gender dynamics in Lume district in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. Both quantitative and qualitative data collection was used and purposive sampling technique was implemented to select four peasant associations in the district. Households were stratified into male headed households and female headed households and simple random sampling was used to proportionally select 165 households from both groups (135 male headed households and 30 female headed households). Key informant interview, focus group discussions and household survey were also used to collect primary data. The data analysis was carried out by using descriptive statistics, one way ANOVA and chi-square tests. Results of the study showed that there was a significant difference in irrigation crop preference between male and female headed households. Male headed households mostly prefer high value crops such as onion, tomato and cabbage, while female headed household prefer easily manageable and low water demanding crops. Results on engagement in management practices revealed that female headed household mainly participate in planting, weeding, hoeing, harvesting, while male headed household are widely involved in land clearing, cultivation, crop watering, disease and pest control and transporting. The study has concluded that gender has significant roles and implications in small scale irrigation agriculture through its direct influence in participation, labor division and crop preference. Finally, the study suggests that improving the involvement of female headed households in irrigation agriculture, special consideration should be given by government and non-governmental organization. INTRODUCTION In Ethiopia, the agricultural sector creates employment for about 84% of the population and it accounts for 45-50% of the GDP of the country and makes the largest input to raw materials for agro-industries and food security (Teshome, 2006). Smallholder farms are predominant and account for more than 90% of agricultural production and cover over 95% of the total area under cultivation (Tiruneh et al., 2001; MoFED, 2010). The country is dominated by small scale agriculture with rain fed dependant, traditional as well as subsistence farming with limited access to technology and institutional support service (Beyera, 2004). According to a report by FAO (2003), to overcome the dependency on rain-fed agriculture, it is crucial to shift and expand irrigation agriculture. Likewise, Awulachew et al, (2005) indicated that improving irrigation agriculture ensures food security, improved livelihood status and alleviates poverty. Ethiopia has great irrigation potential, which is estimated as 5.3 million hectares of land of which 3.7million hectares can be developed using surface water sources and 1.6 million hectares using ground water and rain water management (MoFED, 2010; Awulachew and Ayana, 2011). The average crop yields per hectare from irrigated land increases 2.3 times higher than the yield produced by rain fed agriculture (FAO, 2007). However, currently irrigated agriculture produces less than 3% of the total food production of the country (Atnafie, 2006). As a result, the productivity of the agricultural sector is very low and lags behind the rate of population growth and partially reinforcing food insecurity in the country (Awulachew et al., 2010). This is mainly due to poor water storage capacity and large spatial and temporal variations in rainfall, there is no sufficient water available for most smallholder farmers to produce more than one crop per year (Taffese, 2003; MoFED, 2006). This results in frequent crop failures followed by dry spells, occurrence of severe droughts and produce significant soil erosion which may reduce the potential productivity of farmlands (Awulachew et al., 2010). On the other hand, the correlation of gender and agricultural productivity of irrigated crops is inversely
Gender Gap in Agricultural Productivity: A Case Study of Smallholder Farmers in Busia County Kenya
International journal of economics, 2024
The study aimed at determining the gender gap in agricultural productivity: A case of Smallholder Farmers in Busia Kenya. Methodology: The research employed a correlational research approach, utilizing multistage sampling to choose 384 participants from seven subcounties within the study region. Data collection utilized structured questionnaires, and analysis was conducted on quantitative data using descriptive statistics and inferential methods with STATA version 17. The findings were presented using tables and figures. Findings: The study revealed a statistically significant gender gap in agricultural productivity in Busia-County at the expense of female farmers. Specifically in Teso North, gender gap was-0.43 with a p-value of 0.049, in Teso south, gender gap was-0.63 with a p-value of 0.040, in Bunyala, gender gap was-0.67 with a p-value of 0.035, in Butula, gender gap was-0.47 with a p-value of 0.002, in Matayos, gender gap was-0.72 with a pvalue of 0.041, in Nambale, gender gap was-0.64 with a p-value of 0.041 and In Samia, gender gap was-0.67 with a p-value of 0.036. It was concluded that female farmers are less productive than male farmers in Busia County Kenya. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Drawing from production theory, and social feminist theory, the study investigated the relationship between productivity and gender among smallholder farmers. To address the gender gap in agricultural productivity, it is recommended that policymakers, agricultural extension services, and other stakeholders advocate for gender-inclusive agricultural development initiatives in the area.