DETERMINANTS OF PASTORALISTS AND AGRO-PASTORALISWOMEN PARTICIPATION IN NON-FARM INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITIES: THE CASE OF DEGAHBOUR DISTRICT, JARER ZONE OF SOMALI REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Non-farm activities by rural farm households in general and women in particular are gaining importance in most developing economies due to the increasing inability of the farm sector to support rural livelihoods. This study aimed at identifying the pastoralists and Agro- pastoralists’ women participation in non-farm income generating activities in Degahbour district of Somali Regional State, Ethiopia. It helped in identifying factors which are essential to design policies for promoting alternative income generating strategies for women. A two-stage sampling procedures was used to select Kebeles and sample respondents. In the first stage, from 19 kebeles in the district (12pastoral and 7 Agro-Pastoralists, three kebeles, 2 pastoralists and 1 Agro-Pastoralists were selected randomly. In the second stage, 122 sample respondents were selected using random sampling based on probability proportional to size. Data were collected through a standardized, formal questionnaire from 122 randomly selected women households from the district. Descriptive statistics and Tobit model were used to analyze data. Descriptive results showed that 83 (68%) of the sample women participated in non-farm activities such as charcoal, firewood and chat sales, and petty trade while 39 (32%) were non-participants. Results of the Tobit model showed that education, experience, distance to road, distance to market, extension contact, livestock ownership, woman’s own saving, participation in social activities, and household head’s participation in non-farm activities were statistically significant factors in determining women’s participation in Non-farm income generating activities. On the basis of the results of the study it could be recommended that government and development practitioners should give due recognition to non-farm income generating activities in rural areas by designing policies that will equip poor rural women with better skills through education, extension services, experience sharing and social participation, increased investment in infrastructure and accessibility to financial resources.