Gender inequality in the Agriculture sector: “ The known and Unknown” in Irrigation Presented at The Gender and Irrigation Technical workshop, March,2016

Outline of presentation 2 Major Gender inequality issues in the Agriculture Sector GE issues in Irrigation – The Known – The Unknown Way forward

Major GE issues in the sector 3 Women participate and contribute to the sector but still – have less access to land, technologies, credit, fertilizer, improved seed, irrigation, advisory services, markets, less present as members and within the leadership in cooperatives (endowment), as well as a face a variety of challenges as a result of cultural norms and practices (structural), – A recent World Bank study indicated the productivity gap at 23% in Ethiopia (World Bank 2015) – The role and support to married women needs a lot of work

knownEntry points Article 35 Constitution ( FDRE, 1995 ) - The revised family law (July 2000) - Land certificate program (1997) - Ag. Gender Mainstreaming guidelines Revision in discussion - should we include /do we need one for irrigation? Concluded (2014) gender audits of Ag sector (4 regions) Report exist/Capacity development work initiated? Is there sufficient information on this aspect? The Government’s Growth and Transformation Plan – 2010 to 2015 Set targets BSC /TAD Mechanization- 30% female heads value addition technologies 50% women access and use of; post- harvest technologies- introduction of labor saving technologies for women, Extension – 100% FHH, Research- needs of women; Cooperatives- increase participation by 50%, FHH and Married; Livestock – chicken – family poultry, NRM – 30% of job in NRM activities; Transformation agenda – that helps to address bottleneck in the sector – for Strengthening of water user associations and identification and promotion (to both male and female farmers) of improved irrigation water management practices and technologies

We know much more about FHH Land- smaller sizes (in general therefore irrigable land), with certificate Labor- scarce so rent out/sharecrop- thus benefit less from irrigation Non-Labor inputs: seed access for irrigated crops (generic) Information: less access/advisory service low including for irrigated agriculture Access to markets : less access Human capital (World Bank 2014b): less educated Rural organizations (Peterman et al. 2010): less participation e.g. in irrigation water user association Credit: less access to credit Technology : less access/not affordable/not cognizant of the specific needs/usage/adoption lower Cultural norms and practices ****

What do we know about the issues of married women in irrigation? 6

Land – joint certification presents an opportunity to women – What is that opportunity in view of investments such as irrigation? – Who decides what to grow on which plot? Is backyard considered? – What do women want out of irrigation investment/is there a difference in their wants/needs from men? Labor/time – demand for more labor/time of women as a result of irrigation adoption? Non-Labor inputs - has type of technology considered their needs, how much do they involve in technology selection, adoption and what options are available Few known and a lot of unknown (at least fact and data supported) 7

Information/advisory – what kind of information do women need, what is critical? Access to markets – how has market for irrigation output been facilitated/ are they producing for the market? Decision on sales and use of returns? Rural organizations : represented through their husbands- unless belong to informal groups Credit access: for what purpose, who decides and who is able to take credit (credit worthy) Cultural norms and practices **** more visible Continued… 8

Acknowledge the existence of differences in the needs/roles of FHH and women in married households in irrigation and therefore… Strengthen support to FHH Conduct rigorous gender analysis to design and implement effective irrigation projects (households/small scale etc.) – Current role in irrigation (VC), potential for women’s enhanced involvement/gain/ decision making processes, identification of needs etc… – Availability and affordability of technologies (irrigation technologies) – Socio cultural barriers as a major component of the analysis, defining who should intervene Ensure lessons gathered link to policy and processes (e.g. revision of mainstreaming guideline) Identify Who should be leading gender related research work WAY forward 9

Thank you 10