1. Agajie Tesfaye, Rezene Fissehaye and Taye Tessema
Gender Perspectives of Economic and Health Effects of Parthenium hysterophorus: A Preliminary Assessment
Agajie Tesfaye, Rezene Fissehaye and Taye Tessema

2. Introduction
Parthenium hysterophorus is a hostile and pervasive alien weed threatening:
agricultural productivity and
food security situation of the country.
Men, Women and children are actively involved in the agriculture sector in the management of:
crops
Livestock
Natural resources
And the agriculture sector is severely affected by Parth.
Even though it is expected that the impact of parthenium notably has gender dimensions:
there was no adequate information that presents disproportionate impacts of parthenium on men and women
To bridge-up this gap, a study was conducted in different parts of the country with the main objective of:
assessing the gender dimensions of Parthenium impacts.

3. Methodology Standard survey methodologies were employed
Desk reviews
qualitative assessments
Focus group discussions
Key informant interviews
Questionnaire based studies
Structured questionnaire
A total sample size of 318 households (10% of them were women)
The study sites included:
Eastern part of the country (Haramaya area)
Northern part of the country (Sirinka area)
Central parts of the country (Dugda Bora area)
Target groups of the study
Farming community
Office of Agriculture
Health Centers

4. Major Findings Gender disparities
No gender disparity on:
Awareness of parthenium
(both men and women are aware)
How parthenium was introduced to the country
Both men and women perceived that this alien invader weed was introduced to the country along with wheat which was imported mainly for food aid in the seventies.
Expansion of parthenium from road- sides to farmlands and grazing lands

5. Gender disparities ………..
Gender disparity (GD) on perception of men and women on expanding trend and extent of infestation:
73% of women observed high extent of expansion
51% of men
GD was also observed on the knowledge of dissemination mechanisms:
78% of men knew means of dissemination
58% of women
Major dissemination mechanisms reported:
Seed dispersal
Through Erosion
Through Animals
Using parthenium for roof thatching, mulching, etc

6. Gender disparities ………..
GD: As a result, the proportion of community members who applied the different control mechanisms was higher for:
men (77%) than
women (38%).
GD: Even the proportion of households who used herbicides to control the invader was higher for:
men (23%) than
women (6%).
This might be because men have better access to participation than women in:
meetings and
workshops

7. Gender disparities on:
Economic effects
GD on perception of men and women on effect of parthenium on crop yields:
70% of men realized part. has negative
effects on crop yield
56% of women
This might be because men are largely involved in crop production
The yield loss is about 40% on average
Could be 100% if not controlled

8. Gender disparities ………..
Economic effects ………..
GD on negative effects of parthenium on dairy production:
94% of women noticed part. Has negative effects on dairy production
76% of men
This is because, women have close attachments with livestock
In the household division of labor, women are mainly responsible for:
milking,
milk preservation and
processing

9. Gender disparities ………..
Economic effects ………..
As a result, women have noticed that parthenium:
Reduces milk yield by 50%
impacts negatively on quality of milk
Imposes high risks on health of children.
Children hardly consume milk tainted with parthenium due to:
Sourness
Bad smell
This inturn imposes more burden on women

10. Gender disparities ………..
Economic effects ………..
Both men & women have also noticed the negative impact of Parthenium on health of livestock:
31% of men reported negative impacts of parth. On health of livestock
26% of women.
Both men and women have also noticed that parthenium impacted in:
Lowering price of milk by 50% due to sourness and bad smell
Lowering market values of cattle by 40% due to dermatitis

11. Gender disparities ………..
Economic effects ………..
Both men and women observed that parth.:
invades pasture lands
inhibits growth of beneficial grass species
Exacerbates feed shortages
Feed shortages and health problems of livestock eventually contribute to poor quality of products, such as:
Milk (sour and bad smell)
Meat (bad taste and smell)
Skin (not marketable)
Women and children are more affected than men with impacts of parthenium on:
Low milk production
Poor quality milk and meat
lower price of milk
Eventual economic strain

12. Gender disparities ……….. Environmental effects
Both men and women have perceived negative effect of parthenium on bio-diversity:
42% of women noticed negative effects
of parthenium on bio-diversity
38% of men
Inhibiting germination and growth of flora
Depletes nutrients and aggravates soil infertility

13. Gender disparities ……….. Social Impacts
Health impacts of parthenium were reported to include allergic reactions, such as:
skin rashes and dermatitis
Sinus (asthmatic)
Eye irritation
respiratory problems like bronchitis Et
Health of women is more affected than men due to frequent contacts with Parthenium during:
Weeding
Farm leveling

14. Indian Case

15. Conclusion and Recommendations
Both men and women are aware of parthenium, its introduction, dissemination and control mechanisms
The findings reveal that women suffer more with negative effects of Parthenium than men.
The impacts of parthenium will get worsened unless timely corrective measures are taken
Therefore, gender specific interventions are required to effectively control Parthenium and minimize its impacts especially on women.
Awareness creation efforts shall be designed for both men and women either separately or jointly depending on the nature of intervention
Controlling parthenium through integrated approaches (mechanical, chemical, biological mechanisms) minimizes its impacts especially on women

16. Thank U All