Gender analysis in improved bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Productivity in jardega jarte district horo guduru wollega zone, oromia region, ethiopia

Abstract

Ethiopia is the second-largest wheat producer, next to South Africa in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA). Bread wheat is the second most important food crop in Ethiopia after maize and also widely grown in the Oromia region in general and Jardega Jarte district in particular as food and cash crop. This study was designed to analyze gender roles in improved bread wheat productivity in Jardega Jarte District, Oromia Region, Western Ethiopia. For this study, the cross-sectional study design was employed in five randomly selected kebeles for the survey. Primary data were collected from 184 households of improved bread wheat producer farmers (143 MHH and 41FHH) through using a structured interview schedule, focus group discussion and key informant interview. Both descriptive and econometric data analysis technique were applied. Harvard analytical framework of gender activity profile was used to assess gender roles, access to and control over resources in the improved bread wheat productivity. The t-test result indicated that there was the mean difference between MHH and FHH in terms of Age, education level, size of cultivated land, improved seed, labor, frequency of extension contact, fertilizer use, annual income, oxen owned and farm experience in improved bread wheat productivity. The chi square test indicated that there was statistically significant relationship between MHH & FHH being in membership in social organization and access to pesticide. The study findings rev ealed that there were gender differences in access to and control resources. Women engaged in unpaid reproductive roles and have more work burden; as a result, they faced economic and financial constraints in the study area. Moreover, OLS regression showed t hat the educational level, size of cultivated land, frequency of extension contact, amount of fertilizer used, accessed to pesticide, and farm experience were significantly affected the improved bread wheat productivity positively. Whereas distance from market was influenced negatively. Hence, to reduce women’s unpaid burden and to create paid job access to women’s government and development organizations necessary to introduce and endorse labor saving technologies, supporting women’s development through increasing women’s involvement in credit and savings, income generating activities and empower them. Hence, improve access to agricultural inputs to improved bread wheat productivity in general; enhance provision of inputs and services to FHH farmers’ in particular. In order to improve gender differences in the study area awareness raising on gender equality and equity in access and control over resources, including land, income from improved bread wheat produced among household members should be improved