Gender Analysis of “Mainstreaming Agro-Biodiversity Conservation in to Agricultural Production Systems of Ethiopia” Institute of Biodiversity Conservation (IBC) Project

Abstract

Agriculture has been playing a critical role in the economy of many developing countries of the world (Economicsdiscussion.net 2015), including Ethiopia. In this economic activity, both men and women have been involved with their distinct ascribed roles and responsibilities such as food production, agricultural bio-diversity management and conservation. With regard to women’s participation, in Sub-Saharan Africa, studies have shown that they share in the agricultural labor force took 50 percent (FAO, 2011). According to FAO (2005), women’s share in the production of food has reached 80, 60 and 40 percent in Africa, Asia and Latin America, respectively.

However, the differential role and responsibility assignments of women and men in agricultural sector left the former in disadvantageous positions. In most societies of the world, women’s contribution in the sector is underestimated and undervalued. Women have also suffered from lack of access to and control over resources. Women are underrepresented in leadership and decision making positions at household as well as society level. Furthermore, the arduous domestic chores like food processing, collecting firewood and water and so on are overwhelmingly performed by women. The work performed by women on being unpaid and invisible and make women overburdened as compared to male counterparts (Nakkiran and Karunakaran 2009).

The study focused on the analysis of gender relations in division of labor, resource ownership, leadership and decision making at household and societal levels in the Project implemented by the Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute (EBI) Project known as “Ethiopia: Mainstreaming Agro-biodiversity Conservation into the Farming Systems of Ethiopia.”  The objective of the project is to provide farming communities with incentives (policies, capacity, markets, and knowledge) to mainstream conservation of agro-biodiversity, including crop wild relatives into the farming system of Ethiopia. The project is implemented in the three regional states of Ethiopia such as the Amhara (Menjar-Shenkora Woreda), Oromia (Yayu and Gimbichu Woredas) as well as the Southern Nations and Nationalities Regional State (Angacha Woreda).