Handloom Value Chain Analysis the Case of Dorze Ethnic Group in Chencha, Gamo Gofa Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was designed to conduct three specific objectives identify value adding activities and value added handmade cotton clothes of Dorze ethnic group, to analyze job creation capacity and conduct cost-benefit analysis of handloom weaving  and to analyze women’s role in raw cotton production to handloom weaving.  Both primary and secondary data were used. A total of 123 producer households were selected from Arbaminch zuria district of Gamo Gofa zone and 9 small and micro enterprises, and one textile company were interviewed using semi structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics data analysis techniques were used to analyze the data.

The analysis result shows that on average handloom weaving small and micro enterprises create job opportunities for 1.56   female and 7.9 male. Descriptive statistics results show that the main cotton value chain actors in the study area are input supplier, producers, local collectors, wholesalers, ginners, cottage level weavers and retailers. Also interview with Dorze ethnic group weavers shows that weavers of study area were producing many value added cotton handloom clothes and clothing items today like; Kemis, Netala, gabi, Algalibis, scarf, cap, and bulliko. In cotton to handloom value chain women play key role at both field and value addition stage. In field stage women participate in weeding, planting and harvesting whereas at value addition women participate in ginning, spinning and marketing of finshed goods. Financial analysis result shows that farmers-retailers-local ginners-handloom cotton weavers chain integration farmers receive 0.56 birr return for every 1 birr investment on cotton, retailers receive 0.11 birr, local ginners receive 0.11 birr, and weavers receive 0.322 birr for every 1 birr investment in cotton value chain activity, citrus paribus.

Keywords: Value chain, Handloom, Weavers, Dorze and Value Addition