Global Advanced Research Journal of Agricultural Science
September 2012 Vol. 1(7), pp 186-190
Copyright © 2012 Global Advanced Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Extent of Rural Women Participation and Decision Making in Seed Production Activities

Dawit Tsegaye*, Tadesse Dessalegn, Ahmed Yimam and Minilek Kefale

Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 79, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

*Corresponding author E-mail: d_tsegaye@yahoo.com

Accepted 21 August, 2012

Abstract

Rural women play a pivotal role in agricultural and rural economies in all developing countries. They play key roles by working with full passion in production of crops right from the soil preparation till post harvest activities. The study focused on role of rural women in seed production and their decision making in Northwest of Amhara region, Ethiopia. Five villages were selected on the basis of their experiences in seed production and marketing. Fifty married women farmers, ten from each village, were selected by using simple random sampling technique. Interview schedule was used to obtain information from rural women on their socio-economic characteristics, their participation in seed production activities and their role in various decision making areas. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data collected. Result showed that only 14% of the respondents accessed formal trainings on seed production and management indicated the male domination in benefiting from trainings and extension services. The result depicted that 98%, 92%, 84%, 82% and 80% of the respondents participated and engaged in weeding, organic fertilizers preparation, inputs transport to farm, fertilizer applications and harvesting, respectively. However, their participation was limited on ploughing (14%) and crop protection activities (34%). The roles of women in final decision making on purchase/sell of farm implements (6%) was quite minimal. Their extent of participation in decision making for most of seed production activities is limited only on consultation. Therefore, serious attention and integrated support should be given for rural women to improve their position in decision making.

Keywords: Decision making, participation, rural women, seed production.