The Role of Women Participation on Agricultural Extension Service: The Case of Adiy Koro Kebelle, Ahferom Woreda Central zone of Tigray region,

Abstract

Ethiopia rural women make significant contribution to and are the ministry of the farm labor. The work in all aspects of agriculture, in addition to active engagement in agriculture, women are responsible for all household chores. The main objective of the study was to assess the role of women participation in agricultural extension service in the case of Ahferom Woreda. The study area was selected purposively to identify factors that influence farm women’s agricultural output and to identify the constraints and opportunities of extension service in reaching out to rural women in Ahferom Woreda. A total of 30 respondents were selected using simple random sampling. The data was collected from both primary source using key informant interview, structured interview schedule and secondary source by reviewing reports and document used for collecting the essential quantitative data from the sampled respondents. The major output the study indicates the factors affecting participation of women farmers in agricultural extension. The collected data was analyzed by qualitative and quantitative method of data analysis. The quantitative data was expressed using simple descriptive statistics like percentage and frequency and the qualitative data was expressed by words and statements. The study result shows that women are significantly influenced by total annual income extension participation, lack of credit service training, and domestic work. The major constraints identified farmer women are low participation of women in extension programs, poor extension methods, lack of important information. The level of women participation in agricultural extension was medium. The extension agents were more sensitive to give information to husbands whereas the women got secondary information from their husbands. As a result, extension agent should consider women designated roles in agricultural production effort. Agricultural information to farmers should be gender specific and sensitive.