期刊名称：Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development
印刷版ISSN：2222-2855
电子版ISSN：2222-2855
出版年度：2014
卷号：5
期号：1
页码：28-34
语种：English
出版社：The International Institute for Science, Technology and Education (IISTE)
摘要：Women play a significant role in agriculture, the world over. Despite women’s critical contributions to the family income through farming activities, no recognition is given to them as an important contributor. The study was carried out in Yilmana Densa district, Ethiopia, with the objective to find out the participation and decision making process of rural women in farming activities. A sample of 90 respondents was selected from three villages using multistage random sampling technique. Data were collected from women respondents using semi-structured questionnaire, and from men group, women group and experts using focus group discussions (FGDs). The data collected were analyzed using SPSS software. Results show that rural women regularly engaged and participated in critical farming activities including weeding, seed preparation, selling agricultural commodities, and harvesting. The level of their participation is limited in ploughing farmland, spreading chemicals, and crop protection activities. Most rural women did not have any role in decision making with regard to purchase/sale of farming implements, land preparation and determination of type and amount of chemicals (pesticides, herbicides) used. Rural women’s participation in farm management decision making is quite minimal. Lack of experience, illiteracy, false assumption about the role of rural women in agriculture, shortage of technical knowledge/skills, and limited extension service are the main determinant factors affecting the participation of rural women in decision making process in the study area. Thus, all the possible opportunities should be created for rural women to improve their level of participation and decision making in farming activities. Well organized and integrated awareness creation strategy should also be designed and facilitated by stakeholders to minimize the social, cultural, and economic factors affecting rural women’s decision making.
关键词：Decision making; farming activities; gender; participation; rural women
