An Assessment of Women Farmers' Participation in Agricultural Extension Services for Income and Nutrition Improvement in Ethiopia: The Case of Becho District, South West Oromia
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Date
2014-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of agricultural extension services
consisting of both production and nutrition related information in improving the production and
nutrition of farmers and women farmers in particular in Becho district. Required data were
collected from four kebeles of Becho district from 338 randomly selected households (277 male
headed and 61 female headed), 18 in-depth interviews with key informants and eight focus group
discussions. The data were entered in SPSS software and organized in tables and figures and
further described and analyzed following descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, bivariate
correlation, and multiple linear regression analyses procedures. In inferential statistics, Chisquare
(X2) test, independent samples t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) have
been applied. In order to test the significance of association between dependent and explanatory
variables, i.e.; for r and coefficients (unstandardized beta) t-test has been used when ever
required. Tests of significances have been decided at P ≤ 0.1 levels.
The result of the regression model revealed that increased cultivated land, TLU, use of improved
seed, access to credit and contacts with agricultural extension agent’s increases households’
agricultural production. On the other hand, it was only the impact of use of improved seed for
female headed farmers was positive and significantly increases agricultural production. Age,
educational level, family member less than 14 years old, use of improved seed, livestock size
(TLU), and knowledge and attitude on agricultural extension activities (AEA) for income and
nutrition) were found significantly influencing the index of all respondents’ and male headed
farmers’ diet diversification function. On the other hand, only TLU was found significantly
influencing the index of female headed farmers’ diet diversification function
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Keywords
Women Farmers