The Role of Married Women in Household Food Security:The Case of Kersa Kondaltiti Woreda, West Shewa
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Date
2000-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This paper is aimed at examining the role of women in household food security. The content,
however, is confined to the realities in three kebeles of Kersa Kondaltiti Woreda. Kersa
Kondaltiti is found in the West Sh ewa Zone of the Oromia Regional State. It is located 60 kms
south of Addis Ababa on the main road to BLitajira.
Results of the study have revealed that women in the area participate actively both in crop and
in livestock production. However, they are denied of ownership of productive assets (i.e. land
and livestock), and the fruit of their labor. They have little power on the decision of the selling
and disposing of the income that is earned from the field crops and from the larger animals
except their products,such as butter. This has resulted in the women having less purchasing
power, which fiuĀ·ther affects their participation in the market and in the household's access to
food.
In addition, it has been established that availability of women's labor is very essential to
household food security in relation to the provision of processed food for consumption.
Besides, fetching water, gathering fuel wood and grinding grain have been found to be
ensuring factors for household food security. As a result, since most of women 's time is utilized
by these daily activities their involvement in other income generating activities is restrained.
The study has strongly established that the role of women in household food security is crucial,
but that under the curtailing conditions for women - - the key actors - the desired food security
could not be ensured.
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Keywords
The Role of Married Women, Household Food Security