Abstract:
his study addresses the gender dimensions in agro-pastoral production system, the case of
Jigjiga Woreda, Somali Regional State, Ethiopia, focusing and identifying on the agro pastoral gender division of labor, access to, and control over resources. An interview
schedule was used to collect primary data from four Kebeless, which were selected
randomly from the agro-pastoral areas of the woreda. For this study, a total 120
households were selected using probability proportional to size from the four KAs. In the
study, personal interviews were used for quantitative data collection, and focus group
discussion and key informant interviews were used for qualitative data collection. The data
were analysed using descriptive statistics. The study findings show that males of agro pastoral HHs carried out major tasks in agricultural and livestock production. In livestock
rearing, females have an important activities and decisive role to all the domestic tasks.
Males and females had distinct share in whole practices of agro-pastoral community.
However, noticeable variations were observed in access to production resources by MHHs
and FHHs. Specifically important economic resources such as agricultural land, and large
animal’s possession often vested with MHHs. Less valued items from livestock products
such as, milk, butter, egg including poultry and non-economic resources such as
housewares were totally governed by females. Males centrally control over the major
farmland and household resources, which ensure to hold the overall decision-making power
within households. Access to services such as extension, technologies and other social
services was very limited. FHHs, being economically poor and having limited with no
alternative options they were found always under burden in agro-pastoral areas. To bring
about relief and development in the agro-pastoral households of the area, increasing
awareness, improving access to education, extension services, and gender development
programmes are suggested.
