Rural Women in the Informal Sector-Challenges and Opportunities: The Case of Mertule Mariam Town, East Gojjam Zone
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2016-06
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Abstract
Women have been engaged in the informal sector in general and local drink selling in particular because of various factors; and there are also various challenges while they were operating within the sector and lead their livelihood. This study investigates rural women in the informal sector-challenges and opportunities with particular emphasis on Katikala and tella producers and sellers in Mertule Mariam town, East Gojjam Zone, Amhara Regional State. Employing a cross sectional qualitative research; primary data were gathered from women local drink sellers and various groups of selected study participants. In-depth interviews, key-informant interviews, focus group discussions and direct observation were used as method of acquiring information which was finally analyzed thematically to provide a qualitative account on the issues under study. The study shows that lack of sufficient agricultural land, divorce, low level of education, widowhood and the need to supplement income were the overriding socioeconomic factors compelling women to engage in local drink selling. Moreover, interviewees and key-informants raised the social value of the local drinks, access to physical capital such as road and market accessibility, locational advantage, low capital requirement, and existence of nonfarm income generating activities as the most important socioeconomic aspects attract women to specifically engage in local drink selling. The study further reveals that women in the activity confronted many social challenges which include the negative attitude of the local community members, competition and conflict with other local drink sellers, conflict with their customers and health problems. The economic challenges of women local drink sellers were also found in the study which involves seasonal fluctuation in demand of their product, lack of access to formal credit, lack of working space, and increase in fire wood price. The study has revealed that women have adopted various coping strategies such as involving in off-farm and nonfarm income generating activities in part-time and cotton spinning a side work at home. Women’s strong social capital helped them both to start their business and as a coping mechanism in enabling them to take credit from relatives and neighbors. At the end, the study verified that while most of local drink sellers have had the aspiration to continue with the current business, some, particularly katikala retailers do not have the desire for continuing the business as they become unprofitable and exposed to various abuses and health problems
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Local drink selling; Livelihood strategy; socioeconomic factors; socioeconomic challenges; coping strategies; social capital; future aspirations;Mertule Mariam town