Women Empowerment

What is intersection between women empowerment and legumes in Ethiopian farming systems? The play a key role in production and post harvest handling (labour for weeding, harvesting, threshing) and to a limited extent in marketing. However: – Not consulted in decision making on resource allocation for production, – Not involved in marketing large quantities of produce – Where they are involved in small businesses (Baltena), they don’t readily have support to access business development services (business skills training, financial services) and alternative energy – Lack labour saving technologies Capacity (knowledge and skills) is rather low (They are not given priority to learn) as culture does not expect to be participate in public activities

How could emphasis in women empowerment lead to better integration of legume in the farming systems and how could greater emphasis on development empower women? Involve the appropriate stakeholders in the project to address the gender disparities (MoA- gender focal desk; Min of youth women affairs, women associations etc ) to Sensitize households (men and women) on the need their full participation in the project Include women decision making in access and use of resources for legume production and marketing Training targeting women to build entrepreneurial skills in legume value chains Linking women to networks that can help them access financial services and alternative energy, and labour saving technologies