Revista de Artes e Ciências Sociais

Contribution of Seed Producer Cooperatives in Livelihoods Promotions from Gender Perspectives in Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

Mossa Ahmed

Background: The study was to elucidate seed producer cooperatives and livelihoods from gender perspective in Amhara National Regional State particularly in ten Integrated Seed Sector Development (ISSD) project sites of Bahir Dar University. In realizing the study, both qualitative (in-depth interviews and Focus Group Discussions) and quantitative (structured questionnaires from 200 randomly selected households) research approaches were employed to collect data. Data were analyzed through descriptive and probit model.

Results: Findings showed that the number of female-headships who involved in seed producer cooperatives was found to be very few in numbers, which accounted 14.3% in contrast with 85.7% of Male Headed Households. Though the land owning pattern between the male-headed households and female-headed households does not show variation, the other inputs like farmland size, adult labor, credit, extension, education, and saving are critical in drifting the Female Headed Households to have limited options in their livelihoods. The probit regression model analysis displayed that livelihood of household’s increases by 21%, 4.5% and 61% when there is an increase of land size, credit access and saving amount on an average, respectively.

Conclusion: Thus, female headships are less participated and less benefited in seed producer cooperatives than Male Headed Households and they need attention so as to sustain their livelihoods.