Abstract:
The study was conducted with the aim of analyzing and describing the role of women in
agriculture in Ale Woreda,Ilubabor zone,Oromia regional state, in order to assess the
participation of women in agriculture. The study was based on a mixed research design,
which integrated both quantitative and qualitative research methods. As the research tries to
describe the situation, descriptive method was used for this study. From the total 3191
households 355 households were selected as sample households by Yemane 1967 sampling
formula. In addition to the questionnaires, focus group discussion, key informant interviews
and field observation were used as instruments of data collection, based on the output of this
study, the contribution levels of women were identified. The study result showed that women
contribute 34% of labor to agricultural activities and 43% in marketing agricultural
resources. Men, boys and girls also participate in agricultural activities. However, women’s
work in the agricultural activities documented as marginal and they have been considered
more as consumers than as producers. More than 85% of the Ale woreda population is
residing in the rural parts of the Woreda and half of the population is women. The study
showed that the average day for rural women in Ale woreda involves food processing, water
and fuel wood collection, assisting family farm, marketing and labor exchange for community
services. Also the level of participation as women’s labor is more participating in
agricultural activities, community services and contributing more in securing their household
members food demand than other household members do. Suffer from discriminatory
practices that prevent them from accessing land in the same way and extent as men. As such,
men control land and women gain access to land mainly through either inheritance, their
male relatives or in that of their husband. The contributing factors that influences women’s
role in agriculture depends upon the women’s dependence on their husband. The other one is
illiteracy, ignorance, low socio-economic status and traditional religious and cultural
influence. Also, in the study area there were few supporting governmental organizations to
promote women in agricultural activities and empower them. These are mother and child
care, girls’ education and fertilizer credit.
In general the finding of the study indicated that women are the major working forces of
house hold and agricultural activity is difficult without participation of women in the study
community. There for women’s right must be respected by avoiding the social bias and
cultural influence in economic empowerment.
