Rural Women Land Use Right in Tigray Regional State: The Case of Kafta Humra Woreda

Abstract

The fundamental nature and history of the Ethiopian land holding and use right was characterized by Feudal as well as Military system in which women were of the most disadvantaged groups of the society. These days, Ethiopia has introduced constitutionally recognized land holding and use laws that clearly ensure the issue of gender equality on land holding and use rights. Nevertheless, ineffectiveness of implementing these given rights was observed in many instances. Therefore; the study was aimed to critically assess and explain rural women land use right in Tigray: the case of Kafta Humera Woreda. To assess the facts and practices of rural women land use right, probability and non probability sampling techniques were utilized and questionnaires, FGD, as well as key informant interviewees were also used to collect primary data. Secondary data were captured from different documents. The study employed both descriptive and explanatory methods and it was quantitative and qualitative in approach. The quantitative data were analyzed using Mann Whitney and Ch-Square Tests to check some differences and perceptions of responses. Besides, content analysis and narrations were also used to analyze some qualitative data. Finally, the factors that impede the implementation of rural women land use right were identified and the discussion was concluded; regardless of the institutional framework in place and some positive changes can be cited, the rural land administration system was not fully implemented. Women’s equitable access to and control over land was not fully realized. Land redistributions, certifications and registration practices were benefiting men than women. Household decision makings and community land issue participations of women was less. In the land administration system, customary and statutory land use practices were not well compromised. The root causes of the influence of customary land laws were due to weak application of legal land use rules and regulations. The socio-cultural values that encourage men as the bread winners in community decision makings play role in retreating of women land use right. Poor government access of farm land facilities, weak institutional capacity, and less leadership commitment were also among the core challenges of rural women land use right in the study area.

Keywords: Rural women land use right, access to and control over land, Statutory and customary land use